TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Head of Social Reintegration Protection of Jakarta Social Agency, Nurshobah, said that his staffers found difficulties in registering asylum seekers who were relocated to Daan Mogot Baru residential complex, Kalideres, West Jakarta. The reason was that the authority did not recognize them well yet.

“[We] cannot monitor asylum seekers who go out and in. The one who knows them is UNHCR,” said Nurshobah in a phone call with Tempo, Wednesday, July 17.

To date, Jakarta Social Agency and even the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) could not yet provide detailed data on the total number of men, women, and children dwelling in the temporary designated site. However, the agency recorded there are 1,266 asylum seekers per Wednesday, July 17, at 5 p.m. Jakarta time.

“There are 1,266 people based on the number of people who receive lunch this afternoon. But we don’t know the exact number,” he added.

They hailed from ten countries; Afghanistan (971 people), Pakistan (45 people), China (1 person), Iraq (9 people), Iran (7 people), Sudan (70 people), Somalia (130 people), Italy (1 person), Ethiopia (30 people), and Palestine (2 people).

Nurshobah said that the number is subject to change because his staffers and UNHCR officials would re-register the asylum seeker in a bid to ensure those who are worthy for the assistance.

MUH HALWI