On Friday, Indonesia expressed its disappointment towards the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) stating they are not playing a proper role in handling Rohingya refugees in Indonesia.
Acting Director General of immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Widodo Ekatjahjana, made the remarks in response to the rejection of Rohingya refugees by the community in Lhokseumawe, North Aceh, Aceh Province.
“As a result, this has created social problems in Indonesia,” Ekatjahjana said in a statement received in Jakarta.
“UNHCR and IOM must take a role in handling refugees coming from abroad. Do not run away from responsibility and only provide refugee certificates,” he added.
As a result of the issuance of certificates, he said, the refugees can stay in Indonesia as they please. This has the potential to become a social problem in Indonesia, he stressed.
Widodo explained that as per Presidential Regulation Number 125 of 2016 concerning the handling of foreign refugees, immigration, through Immigration Detention Centers, has an important role collecting data by checking travel documents, immigration status, and identity.
“Providing the basic rights of refugees in shelters such as clean water, food, drink, clothing, health services, and worship facilities is the responsibility of UNHCR and IOM as a whole,” he said.
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