Frequently Exposed To COVID-19, Hundreds Of Afghan Refugees In Kalideres Haven't Received Vaccines From The Government Or DKI Provincial Government

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Hundreds of Afghan refugees in the ex shelter of the Kodim building, Kalideres, West Jakarta, have not received vaccines from the Indonesian Government and the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government. In fact, a number of Afghan citizens (WN) have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus.

Wahid Ali as the Afghan refugee representative confirmed that all Afghan refugees in the refugee camps had not yet received vaccinations from the DKI Jakarta government.

"Not yet (vaccinated). There are 200 refugees who have not been (vaccinated). There has been no visit (from the DKI Provincial Government)," said Ali, his nickname when contacted by VOI, Saturday, August 21.

Ali told that several refugees from Afghanistan in Kalideres had been exposed to COVID-19. Even so, the Afghan citizens who were exposed have undergone treatment and recovered.

"In the past, several people have contracted COVID-19 and have been treated. Alhamdulillah, now they are fine," he said.

Ali said that at the refugee camp there were refugees of the sexes of men, women and children. All of them have not received vaccinations as has been intensified by the Indonesian government.

"Here there are 35 children under 15 years old and about 55 to 60 women. The rest are men. About 30 percent of women and 10 percent of children. God willing, they will get vaccinations from the government," he said.

Ali and other Afghan refugees hope to get vaccinated as soon as possible so that they can increase their immune system in the midst of the current pandemic.

"God willing, we also want to be vaccinated. Wherever, we want to be vaccinated but we can get proof of the vaccine," he said.

Previously, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government had proposed a COVID-19 vaccination for foreign nationals (WNA) refugees and asylum seekers in Jakarta. The proposal is fundamental on the human side. The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has also sent a letter to the Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin so that foreigners and asylum seekers are given the COVID-19 vaccine.