As homelessness rises, Indonesia debates how to ease coronavirus restrictions and restart economy
More Indonesians are losing their jobs and sleeping rough – even middle-class workers – as businesses struggle to survive and fears of social unrest grow
An academic has urged the government to lift restrictions in phases, warning of a second wave of infections and no return to life before Covid-19 just yet
At 9pm, the area beneath a flyover in the eastern part of Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, starts filling up with men and women of all ages laying out cardboard boxes as they prepare to spend the night.
Just a few weeks ago, many of them had a roof over their heads.
“I never thought I would end up on the streets,” said Joiyakin Purba, a karaoke lounge singer who was thrown out of his room when he lost his job and could not pay the rent.
People sleep rough at Kampung Melayu, Jakarta, as many Indonesians lose their homes due to the coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Sigit Widodo
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Nearby is the site where two suicide bombers from Islamic State Indonesian affiliate Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) killed three police officers in May 2017.
Joiyakin was oblivious to Kampung Melayu’s recent history. “I feel safe here. There are many people and they are very friendly,” he said.
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Volunteer workers say homelessness is on the rise in Jakarta, and this is a sign of how Southeast Asia’s largest economy has been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Indonesia has officially recorded 16,006 infections and 1,043 deaths but health ministry official Achmad Yurianto on Wednesday said there were more than 33,000 patients suspected to have acute respiratory illnesses for which there was no clinical explanation other than the coronavirus.
