‘No longer enough to survive’: Rohingya refugees protest aid cuts in Pekanbaru

PEKANBARU – Nearly 100 Rohingya residents in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, gathered in front of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) office on Jalan M Jamil on Monday to protest against the increasingly burdensome cost of living.

The demonstrators sought more adequate assistance for their daily basic needs, carrying banners highlighting urgent requirements for sufficient financial support, immediate medical aid, education for their children and more decent housing.

The protest proceeded peacefully, with participants lined up facing the roadside under tight security control from local authorities.

Nuramin, a Rohingya resident who has been living in Pekanbaru since 2020, described that the financial assistance provided by the IOM has been significantly reduced since 2023.

According to him, monthly aid for an individual currently amounts to only 1,050,000 rupiah (approximately £53/RM252).

A married couple receives 1,700,000 rupiah (£86/RM408), while a family with one child receives 2,300,000 rupiah (£117/RM552).

He stated that these amounts are insufficient, as the majority of the funds are spent on house rent, medical expenses and other basic necessities.

“We came to demand a more dignified life. The assistance we currently receive is no longer enough to survive. We hope the authorities will give this serious attention so that support for the daily lives of Rohingya residents can be restored,” he said.

Nuramin also alleged that Rohingya residents often receive different treatment compared to refugees from other nations.

The demonstration highlighted the growing desperation within the Rohingya community as they struggle to maintain an adequate standard of living amid rising economic challenges in Pekanbaru. – AGENCY