JakartaPost-Sept 17
Amid rising anti-refugee sentiment in various regions across Indonesia, the Medan city administration has reaffirmed its commitment to a humanitarian approach by continuing to allow asylum seekers to temporarily reside in the city while they await resettlement in third countries. Medan Mayor Rico Tri Putra Bayu Waas emphasized that the city would not allow the kind of protests and forced evictions against refugees that have occurred elsewhere. “In principle, we are open to accepting refugees on humanitarian grounds. For the Medan City Government, the refugee issue is not merely an administrative matter, it also involves humanitarian values and the preservation of social harmony in our multicultural city,” Rico said during a meeting on Monday with representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). He called on the public to treat asylum seekers residing in Medan with dignity and respect, while urging the UNHCR and IOM to maintain close coordination with local government agencies to ensure effective and humane management. However, Mayor Rico also reminded the asylum seekers currently staying in Medan to respect local norms and contribute to public order. UNHCR Protection Associate Oktina Hafanti reported that approximately 1,200 refugees are currently residing in Medan, the largest city in Indonesia outside of Java. “Most of them come from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Pakistan, Somalia and Myanmar,” she said. These refugees are accommodated in 12 different shelters across the city. To support their daily needs, adult refugees receive a monthly allowance of Rp 1.75 million, while children receive Rp 800,000, provided by the IOM. According to Oktina, many refugees have been living in Medan for up to 10 years, as third countries such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada have become increasingly reluctant to accept them for resettlement. As of now, there are 11,972 refugees registered with the UNHCR office in Indonesia, with children accounting for 29 percent of the total registered population. Read more at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2025/09/17/medan-reaffirms-humanitarian-support-for-refugees.html.
