Navigating the Future: UNHCR Strategies in Addressing the Rohingya Refugees Crisis in Indonesia
Hundreds of Rohingyas have landed on the coast of Weh Island, Sabang, Aceh. They landed at Batu Hitam Beach, Jurong Keuramat, Gampong Ie Meule. They consisted of adults and children, both men and women. These Rohingyas want to be treated as refugees even though according to the Immigration Act, their presence is illegal as they did not use valid travel documents and did not enter through immigration checkpoints. The Acehnese people around the coast are also busy rejecting the presence of the Rohingyas and asking them to return to their place of origin in Myanmar. The wave of Rohingya arrivals to Indonesia through Aceh began in 2015. In the first wave of arrivals, they received assistance from Acehnese fishermen. The Rohingyas seek a livelihood in Indonesia and some of them often lead to social conflicts with the people of Aceh and Indonesia in general. Before coming to Indonesia, they targeted Malaysia as a place to earn a better living. In Malaysia, the Rohingya migrants were able to find work because a number of Malaysian companies needed manual laborers with competitive salaries. However, the Malaysian people and government have not wanted the Rohingya migrants from Myanmar to come for the past few years. The reason is that the Rohingyas often create social conflicts with local residents and criminal acts committed by some of the Rohingyas. However, the Malaysian people and government have not wanted the Rohingya migrants from Myanmar to come for the past few years. The reason is that the Rohingyas often create social conflicts with local residents and criminal acts committed by some of the Rohingyas. Actually, the presence of Rohingyas is not Indonesia’s business. Indonesia should not treat the Rohingya as refugees since it is not a party to the 1951 Refugees Convention. If the Rohingyas are to be treated as refugees, this is a matter for UNHCR, and Indonesia should only assist wherever possible given that the Rohingyas are currently in Indonesia. The extent of Indonesia’s assistance is stipulated in Presidential Regulation No. 125/2016 on the Handling of Refugees from Abroad. Introduction Fleeing from ethnic persecution committed by the Myanmar military junta and local Buddhist extremists in the Rakhine State, thousands of Muslim Rohingya traversed hundreds of kilometers of dense forests and embarked on perilous voyages across the Bay of Bengal to seek refuge in Bangladesh. Currently, over 960,000 individuals have sought refuge in Bangladesh, with the majority residing in Cox’s Bazar, the site of the largest refugee camp globally (Rohingya Refugee Crisis Explained, n.d.). Facing uncertainty about their future in Cox’s Bazar, thousands of them have risked their lives to cross vast, treacherous seas in crowded, dilapidated boats with the hope of resettling in another country. They are willing to take such a risk, hoping to join many of their undocumented community members in economically developed neighbouring countries, notably Malaysia (MMC, 2021) . Over the last decade, waves of Rohingya boat people have managed to reach the coastal shores of Aceh, a province of Indonesia located in the northern tip of the Malacca Straits. Initially, the Acehnese and provincial government accepted and welcomed the arrival of the Rohingya refugees, believing that these refugees would only stay in the country temporarily. UNHCR said that since November 2023, 1.200 Rohingya have landed in Aceh. UNHCR noted that the total number of refugees in Aceh so far has reached 1.608, including 140 people who stayed in the past year (BBC, 2024). The facilities and assistance provided by the Indonesian government to Rohingya refugees in Aceh are shelter, food assistance, health care, clean water assistance, sanitation, psychosocial support, and other basic assistance (Darnela and Nugroho, 2017). With this, Rohingya refugees are greatly helped to fulfill their needs. Although the Indonesian government will still prioritize the interests of the local community (Kompas, 2023). Nonetheless, the presence of Rohingya refugees currently triggers intense debate among the Indonesians. The arrival of Rohingya refugees in Aceh was rejected by the people of Aceh. The people of Aceh have their own reasons for refusing to give refuge to the Rohingya immigrants. The reason is that Rohingya migrants are said to give a bad impression to the community. Rohingya refugees give the impression of bad behaviour and actions and are not in accordance with the customs and norms of village regulations. In addition, they are also unable to maintain cleanliness and do not heed Islamic law and customs among the community. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Indonesia does not have a regulatory obligation to accommodate refugees. This was done on humanitarian grounds (Rahayu, Anam, and Dewanto, 2023). Significant numbers of Acehnese refuse to accept these refugees, claiming that they often cause trouble. Many of these refugees were embroiled in petty theft, throwing people’s aid into the sea, leaving refugee camps, disobeying local community norms and customs, and abusing underage children (Tusriyanto et al, 2023). UNHCR has predicted that a wave of Rohingya refugees will soon enter Indonesian waters. There are several actions that UNHCR has taken so far in dealing with Rohingya refugees in Indonesia. Apart from fulfilling humanitarian needs, they also provide protection to the people from Myanmar. Many Rohingya refugees need food, water, shelter, education and health assistance. UNHCR also plays a role in facing challenges in the form of potential friction between refugees and the people in Indonesia. UNHCR also registers refugees, provides protection and legal assistance, and prevents gender-based violence. In addition, UNHCR also ensures the provision of adequate shelter, health care and sanitation, supports education and skills development, finds livelihood opportunities, and distributes aid. They claim to be involved in several dialogs to ensure a voluntary and safe return process. UNHCR plays a role in monitoring and finding solutions to problems, in addition to being an initiator, facilitator, and determinant. This is the role that UNHCR plays in handling refugees in Indonesia. UNHCR’s Compassionate Response to the Rohingya Refugees Crisis The UNHCR and its partners are currently providing active assistance in addressing the humanitarian and protection requirements of Rohingya