Yahya

 I (Jeff) recently took Yahya mountain biking at the University of Indonesia. As we drove to the park, he told me his story. He was born in Afghanistan, but at the age of 7 or 8,  his family fled Afghanistan because of persecution by the Taliban to become refugees in Pakistan. After the Taliban were overthrown and due to persecution in Pakistan, they returned briefly to their home country. After a few more years, the civil unrest and ethnic persecution forced them to return to Pakistan. At the age of 20, he hired human smugglers to take him to Australia. Unfortunately, the boat he was on sank in the middle of the ocean. Using a satellite phone, they contacted the Australian Navy who told them to stick together with their life vests, because the closet ship was over 8 hours away. They were eventually rescued and for the past 5 years he has been living in Indonesian waiting for resettlement. He has been a refugee his entire life (26 years)! He told me that he just wants to be able to have a job and earn his own way, but refugees are not permitted to hold jobs in Indonesia. Violation of the law could forever jeopardize resettlement. He was receiving some assistance from his family in Pakistan, but about 6 months ago, his family were rounded up and put into a refugee camp.