Promoting hospitality and protection: The role of faith-based organizations in the arrival of Rohingya refugees in Aceh, Indonesia

In the arrivals of Rohingya refugees in Aceh, Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) leverage religious traditions and ethical values to foster government and community support. This study examines the role of three FBOs—Yayasan Kemanusiaan Madani Indonesia (YKMI), Dompet Dhuafa (DD), and Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Indonesia—in facilitating refugee reception and advocating for their basic rights. Through field interviews and thematic analysis, we explore how religious motivations, rooted in theological principles and ethical traditions, inspire both institutional and personal commitment to promoting hospitality and protection. Religious identity allows FBOs to mobilize communities, leverage moral authority with religious leaders to counter negative narratives, and advocate for more humane policies. Beyond providing material assistance, the FBOs help shape discourse on dignity, hospitality, and protection in Indonesia’s refugee context by bridging the gap between state institutions and local communities.