UNHCR has been working in Indonesia since 1979, when the Government of Indonesia invited UNHCR to assist with the establishment of a refugee camp on Galang Island to accommodate more than 170,000 refugees who had fled conflict in Southeast Asia.
The Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA), which was adopted on 14 June 1989 by state members of the International Conference on Indo-Chinese Refugees, provided UNHCR with specific responsibilities in handling the Indo-Chinese influx and identifying permanent solutions for these refugees.
Since the closure of Galang Camp in 1996 UNHCR has continued to assist the Government of Indonesia is addressing the international protection needs of refugees.
Today, UNHCR has nearly 60 staff working at the main office in Jakarta, and five other locations across Indonesia, including Medan, Pekanbaru, Tanjung Pinang and Makassar.