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'We are tired of waiting': Asylum seekers in Medan demand immediate resettlement
The asylum seekers, including those from Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sudan, as well as Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution in Myanmar, argued that they had stayed for too long in Indonesia.
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Indonesian authorities collect information about asylum seekers on board a vessel. (The Jakarta Post/Hotli Simanjuntak)
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undreds of refugees living in Medan, North Sumatra, staged a rally in front of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the city on Thursday, demanding the organization speed up their resettlement to a third country.
The asylum seekers, including those from Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sudan, as well as Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution in Myanmar, argued that they had stayed for too long in Indonesia.
They demanded the UNHCR immediately resettle them to destination countries like Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada.
Farhat Aslani, a 37-year-old refugee from Iran, said that he had been living in Indonesia for seven years, during which time he was not able to work, travel to other places or study.
“We want the [UNHCR] to immediately resettle us to safer destination countries,” Farhat said during the rally. “We are tired of waiting.”
At least 70 percent of refugees staying in Medan suffered from mental illness because of the difficulties they faced while awaiting resettlement, Farhat claimed, adding that he feared their condition would worsen if they continued living this way.
Another asylum seeker from Sudan, Ishaq Bahar, concurred with Farhat, saying that he had also stayed in Indonesia for seven years without any certainty over when he would be able to resettle.
