The deaths of two men in their 20s highlight the deepening crisis facing Rohingya refugees in Indonesia: inadequate housing, little or no access to healthcare, and a dearth of humanitarian assistance.
Asad Ullah, a 25-year-old Rohingya refugee who fled Myanmar and arrived in Indonesia’s Aceh Province in 2022, died on April 14 at Syafira Hospital in Pekanbaru, Riau Province. He had been suffering from Hepatitis C and edema (swelling) in his legs for several months, and his family believes that his death was the result of being denied timely and adequate medical care.
On the same day, 20-year-old Muhammadullah, another Rohingya refugee, also died in Syafira Hospital. Both young men had sought treatment, but neither received the care they needed in time.
Their deaths highlight the deepening crisis facing Rohingya refugees in Indonesia, many of whom arrived by sea after fleeing persecution, insecurity, and deteriorating conditions in both Myanmar and refugee camps in Bangladesh.
Between November 2023 and early 2024, over 2,000 Rohingya refugees landed in Aceh and North Sumatra after undertaking dangerous sea journeys. Many of them are women and children. Hundreds remain stranded in makeshift shelters or substandard housing across Aceh, North Sumatra, and Riau provinces, with little or no humanitarian support.
Asad Ullah was among those who hoped for protection and a better life in Indonesia. Instead, like many others, he found himself in limbo – living in a rented room in a residential neighborhood in Pekanbaru, without formal accommodation or consistent access to healthcare. His family said he visited private clinics multiple times, but could not afford the costs of treatment. They appealed to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) medical team, but claim Asad was not prioritized until his condition became critical. By the time he was finally admitted to hospital – his first time – he was beyond recovery.
“He had been suffering for almost two months,” said a relative. “His legs were swollen, he couldn’t move, and we had no help.”
Under Indonesia’s current policy framework, refugees often cannot access hospital care without a referral from the IOM. However, the IOM’s medical services are limited, often restricted to basic checkups or emergency care. There is no clear pathway for refugees to receive advanced treatment when their conditions worsen.
The IOM provides a monthly cash allowance to some Rohingya refugees in Pekanbaru, including Asad’s family, but it was not sufficient to cover medical expenses. His wife gave birth to their first child shortly before his death. Now widowed, she and the baby remain without assistance, relying solely on relatives for survival.
His wife described Asad as a kind and responsible man who had been struggling to find safety and stability for their family. “His dream was to give our first child a better future,” she said. He became critically ill at the start of Ramadan but was unable to access medical care.
“There was no one to help us in the apartments,” she added. “As a wife and mother of a newborn baby, I tried my best to support him, but he suffered a lot.” She said no organizations or individuals intervened until it was too late.
“No refugee should die like my husband without proper care. Now I’m broken. I don’t know how I will survive.”
Asad Ullah’s passing came just weeks after a funding crisis placed hundreds of refugees at risk. In March 2025, international media reported that over 900 Rohingya in Indonesia faced aid cuts following a significant reduction in funding from the United States, the largest donor to refugee support in the country. Although the IOM later resumed some assistance, long-term support remains uncertain.
The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, has also warned that the Rohingya response remains “seriously underfunded,” with millions of dollars urgently needed to meet basic needs. Other refugees fear that more deaths will follow if the situation does not improve.
“First Muhammad Ullah, just 20, and now Asad Ullah, only 25,” said Rohingya activist Hamidul Haq, who resides in Indonesia. “These are not just personal tragedies, but a painful reminder of the suffering endured by many Rohingya refugees in Indonesia.”
In the aftermath of the two deaths, members of the Rohingya community have appealed to international organizations, humanitarian agencies, and the Indonesian government to act before more lives are lost.
Indonesia currently hosts around 2,800 Rohingya refugees. Most depend entirely on international assistance for food, shelter, and healthcare. Many live in overcrowded spaces, often vulnerable to displacement due to flooding, with no consistent access to food, education, or medical care. Despite the presence of agencies like the IOM and UNHCR, day-to-day conditions remain dire. With global funding uncertain and the crisis in Myanmar ongoing, sustained support is not only critical – it is a matter of life and death.
Source: https://thediplomat.com/2025/04/2-rohingya-refugees-die-in-indonesia-amid-global-funding-crunch/
