Recently, the body of a 37-year-old refugee was found hanging in the yard of Sekupang Immigration Detention Center in Batam, where he had lived since 2016. 

Last year, the Afghan Hazara identified as Abbas Mohammady had tried to end his life by drinking laundry bleach but was discovered and rescued by friends. His body was found on Sept. 30, and his death, believed to be by suicide, has been ascribed to stress.

In March this year, an Afghan refugee living in community housing in Medan, North Sumatra, also took his own life.

As an officer with the Immigration Agency of Pekanbaru, I am deeply disturbed by these suicides. 

My experience working with refugees and asylum seekers from various immigration shelters and community housing units in the care of my agency makes me acutely aware of the difficulties faced by migrants...

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.