People who are forced to flee their homes and seek safety in another country, or in a different part of their own country, invariably need help. Most refugees and internally displaced people leave their homes with little or nothing, and even those with some resources may soon exhaust them.
UNHCR is working closely with its partners to ensure that the psychosocial needs of refugees and persons of concern are met.
In Indonesia, UNHCR’s Community-Based Protection Section works with implementing partner, Church World Service (CWS), to provide for the basic needs of vulnerable refugees and asylum-seekers, including healthcare, psychosocial support and counselling, education and vocational training, and material assistance through cash-based interventions. Due to limited funding, however, UNHCR and CWS are only able to assist less than 400 of the most vulnerable, while many more are in need. Assistance is also provided to refugees by UNHCR’s operational partners, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Dompet Dhuafa, the Buddha Tzu Chi Foundation, Jesuit Refugee Services, the Indonesian Red Cross, and others.
Considering the growing needs of the refugee population in Indonesia UNHCR is working to expand partnership with the Indonesian Government, international organizations, NGOs, and civil society in a range of important areas, including meeting basic needs, ensuring access to education and healthcare, and promoting self-reliance programs.
All services provided to refugees and asylum-seekers by UNHCR and its partners are entirely free of charge.
Participatory Assessment
In order to better understand the needs of the refugee population in Indonesia, and to inform the process of planning, monitoring, and evaluation, UNHCR facilitates annual participatory assessment exercises that involve refugees and asylum-seekers of different ages, genders, nationalities, and cultural and religious backgrounds, together with representatives of UNHCR, UN agencies, international organizations, NGOs, civil society, and relevant government agencies. an age, gender and diversity approach, these participatory assessments are an important tool used to build partnerships with refugee women and men of all ages and backgrounds who are the potential beneficiaries of programs implemented by UNHCR and its partners. By promoting participation of both beneficiaries and service providers through structured dialogue, these exercises allow UNHCR and its partners to gain a deeper understanding of the protection problems faced by refugees and asylum-seekers, and to develop the most suitable programs to address identified needs.
Partnership with other UN Agencies
In partnership with other UN agencies, UNHCR Indonesia actively participates in the planning and implementation of joint activities, including the United Nations Partnership for Development Framework, a process that links various UN programs with development plans being implemented by the Government of Indonesia. UNHCR is also involved in joint UN emergency response and pandemic preparedness, HIV/AIDS, and security coordination.
In particular, UNHCR works closely with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to implement programs to provide protection and assistance to refugees and asylum-seekers in Indonesia, and with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in the areas of child protection, education, and prevention of statelessness through birth registration.