After Waiting 7 Years In Makassar, 11 Asylum Seekers From Afghanistan And Iran Are Finally Resettled In Australia

11 refugee departed for Australia after obtaining resettlement permits from a third Australian country. ANTARA/HO-Rudenim Makassar

MAKASSAR - A total of 11 refugees or asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Iran for seven years waiting in Indonesia, especially Makassar, were finally dispatched to Australia after obtaining resettlement permits.

The head of the Makassar Immigration Detention Center (Rudenim), Alimuddin, in Makassar, Thursday, April 21, said that the eleven refugees who were dispatched consisted of nine refugees from Afghanistan and two refugees from Iran.

"There are 11 refugees with details of Afghan refugees consisting of two families with three children and two bachelors, while the remaining two are married couples from Iran," he said, as quoted by Antara.

He said that from January to April 2022 resettlement had been carried out on 14 refugees, ten each from Afghanistan and four from Iran.

"We hope that asylum recipients open up their country to accept refugees, considering that currently there are more than 13,000 refugees in Indonesia, based on UNHCR data," he said.

He explained, throughout 2021, only six refugees were lucky to get a resettlement process in a third country.

He said that the departure of refugees for resettlement in 2021 was indeed reduced, this was due to the policy of reducing receipts from asylum countries, coupled with a travel ban due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, one of the refugees from Afghanistan, ARS (40) could not hide his happiness at getting the opportunity to live with his wife and child.

"I am very grateful for this opportunity. Because I have been in Indonesia for seven years, previously I was worried about the future of my child, I hope that the new country can also open a new chapter for the family," ARS said to the officers.