From little things, big things grow!
This World Refugee Day, June 20, 2020, the refugee community in Indonesia released the joint statement below. We encourage the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, NGOs, corporations and all non-refugees to recognise and support the agency of refugees in Indonesia and around the world.
Please hear their voice!
“We, therefore, expect UNCHR Indonesia to transform their traditional approach into modern and adequate form of communications; which could suit the needs of refugees. We also request UNCHR assistance to improve our educational and community based psychosocial support to our members. We invite UNHCR to come forward and partner with Cisarua refugees. We believe, together we will achieve the goals set in Global Compact on Refugees. We also demand from UNCHR to accelerate refugee status determination and resettlement processes. ”
— Unified Voice of Refugees in Cisarua
REFUGEE DAY STATEMENT
Unified Voice of Refugees in Cisarua, West Java, Indonesia
Friday, 19 June 2020
Cisarua, Indonesia
We are celebrating this refugee week in a challenging and unprecedented time of COVID-19 pandemic. Ongoing violent conflicts in various parts of the world are contributing to increasing number of refugees. In time of crises, when global cooperation and appropriate response matter the most; refugees continue to experience xenophobia and hostile treatment in host countries.
However, we have not given up hope in face of harsh realities. We are pleased to announce that refugee-led institutions and associations in Indonesia have formed an alliance to address our challenge in a collective and effective manner. Our alliance will amplify voices and aspirations of more than 3,000 refugees living in Cisarua, West Java on appropriate platforms and occasions.
On this special occasion, we welcome commencement of UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok early this year. We anticipate regionalisation of UNCHR representation to transform and replace its traditional approaches to deal with refugee crisis. We, the refugee-led organisations and associations extend our hand for collaboration and partnership to UNCHR Director, Mr. Indrika Ratwatti and staff-members to work together for dignified life of refugees.
Many of the refugees in Indonesia are living in agonising limbo for more than a decade now. Protection processes of UNCHR Indonesia are extremely slow and insufficient. We keenly followed robust global response for refugees - before and after Global Refugee Forum. However, we have not observed any transformative approaches by UNCHR Indonesia.
UNHCR’s traditional approach to deal with refugee issues have had little impact on refugee protection. Moreover, miseries pile up as UNHCR, NGOs and other stakeholders overlook our problems in Indonesia. Unfortunately, none of pledges of Global Refugee Forum address our education, protection and livelihood problems.
Eternal limbo, COVID-19 and lack of support have piled up miseries on refugees of all walks. Particularly a large number of refugees who are in limbo for nearly a decade now, also some asylum seekers who have been waiting for their RSD since past 5 years. They have given up hope of durable solution and resettlement. With grave concern; we admit that continued limbo and negligence is causing widespread mental health issues in our community which needs urgent psychiatric interventions.
Opportunities for higher education is extremely limited. Moreover, complimentary pathways for resettlement does not exist for refugees in Indonesia. Considering high number of highly qualified and educated refugees, we request UNHCR Indonesia to make these opportunities available for us.
Despite these challenges, our communities have shown exemplary resilience. We have educational classes for our children. Our learning centres educate more than 1,000 students. Refugee women are playing an important role to run these initiatives. We provide psychosocial support to our community members. So far, we have distributed more hygiene kits, humanitarian assistance; in far bigger quantities than any other organisation. But we know the challenges are much greater than our efforts.
We, therefore, expect UNCHR Indonesia to transform their traditional approach into modern and adequate form of communications; which could suit the needs of refugees. We also request UNCHR assistance to improve our educational and community based psychosocial support to our members. We invite UNHCR to come forward and partner with Cisarua refugees. We believe, together we will achieve the goals set in Global Compact on Refugees. We also demand from UNCHR to accelerate refugee status determination and resettlement processes.
And finally, we strongly believe that we can overcome most of these challenges with improved UNHCR support. Our community leaders, women and highly skilled members are ready to partner with UNCHR.