T

he United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that the number of refugees and asylum seekers entering Indonesia is continuing to rise every year.

According to UNHCR data, in 2008, the number of refugees and asylum seekers in Indonesia totaled only 385 people. However, this figure had increased dramatically to 3,230 people by 2010, and it has continued to rise, with the latest figure being 8,332 people in 2013.

"Since the beginning of the year through March, the total number of refugees and asylum seekers that caught the attention of the UNHCR in Indonesia had reached 10,623. This number is guaranteed
to continue to rise until the end of the year," the UNHCR's external relations officer, Mitra Salima Suryono, said in Medan, North Sumatra, on Thursday.

She explained that the majority of refugees and asylum seekers came from Afghanistan, followed by Myanmar, Iran, Somalia and Sri Lanka. 

"There are around 26 countries that are among [migrants'] destination countries, but only a few countries are most sought after by these people, including Australia and New Zealand," Mitra Salima said.

Mitra acknowledged that only a few of the refugees and asylum seekers actually reached their chosen destination. This included the 800 refugees that the UNHCR sent to Australia and New Zealand. (fss)