Afghan Refugee Sets Himself on Fire

**kellyhound** · #1 ● 12-05-2021, 09:02 AM

An Afghan refugee commits an act of self-immolation in front of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Medan.

A. S, a man from Afghanistan who is a refugee, was desperate to commit self-immolation because he was depressed and stressed because he had not been sent to a third country.

"This is because stress and depression have lived a long time in Indonesia and have been in obscurity from 7 to 10 years," said Muhammad Juma, a representative for Afghan refugees in Medan.

Juma continued, refugees from Afghanistan including A.S. often ask UNHCR and the International Migration Organization (IOM) to pay attention to the fate of those who are waiting to be sent to third countries. In fact, they have demonstrated that they have set up emergency tents in front of the UNHCR office in Medan City since 30 days ago. However, again the Afghan refugees did not find an answer. "But they didn't pay attention. Finally he decided to set himself on fire," he said.

As a result of the action, his body suffered burns up to 70 percent. He is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Several Afghan refugees who were still standing in front of the UNHCR office had tried to prevent A's action, which had poured oil on his body while carrying a lighter. "But the action did not work and in the end the US set itself on fire," said Juma.