UNHCR warns Malaysia against Myanmar refugee repatriation
UN refugee agency says the armed conflict in Myanmar means there can be no safe and dignified voluntary return of refugees.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued a warning against Malaysia's planned repatriation of Myanmar refugees. As of February, Malaysia was hosting around 193,800 refugees from Myanmar, including Rohingya and Chin ethnicities, according to UNHCR data. The home ministry announced that the first phase of a voluntary repatriation program would see 1,476 refugees return to Myanmar on September 29, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirming that Myanmar had agreed to take in 5,000 Rohingya amid increasing tensions within local communities in Malaysia.
UNHCR maintains that the ongoing armed conflict and violence in Myanmar make it unsafe for refugees to return to their home country. Under international law, no one should be sent to a country where their rights or freedoms may be at risk. Any refugee return must be voluntary, based on an informed decision, and must take place in conditions of safety and dignity.
UNHCR urges careful consideration of the protection needs of all concerned before they are returned to Myanmar and stands prepared to work with relevant authorities on ensuring adequate protection safeguards. A spokesman for the home ministry declined to comment on the UNHCR's statement, referencing its earlier remarks that the repatriation process is voluntary.
Thousands of refugees have fled Myanmar since a military coup in 2021 that triggered a nationwide civil war. As of February, Malaysia reportedly had over 193,800 Myanmar refugees of various ethnicities, but activists claim that many more remain unregistered.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
