Steve Hamilton IOM Deputy Chief of Mission in Indonesia :
For the Rohingyas, there's nowhere to go

STEVE Hamilton, the Deputy Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Indonesia, lauded the efforts of the Acehnese people in doing something to help the boat people from Myanmar and Bangladesh. "They're pulling together and seeing this for what it is, people in need," he said.

Nevertheless, Hamilton acknowledged that no government is ever prepared to take in large numbers of refugees at one time. With more than 1,000 refugees already in Aceh, many are worriedly preparing for the arrival of the estimated 5,000 people still feared to be at sea. Tempo English reporter Amanda Siddharta interviewed Hamilton to discuss the challenges ahead. Excerpts:

May 19, 2015