UNHCR not involved in returning refugees from Malaysia to Myanmar
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said it is not involved in Malaysia’s planned return of refugees to Myanmar. Due to the armed conflict and violence in the country, it is currently impossible to ensure their safe, dignified and sustainable voluntary return, Daily Maverick reports, citing Reuters.
Repatriation plan
Last week, Malaysia’s Ministry of Home Affairs said it had completed the first stage of a voluntary repatriation programme. Under the plan, 1,476 refugees are to be returned to Myanmar on September 29.
Earlier, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that Myanmar had agreed to accept 5,000 Rohingya. This comes amid growing tensions over refugees among local communities in Malaysia.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
UNHCR position
UNHCR stressed that under customary international law, no person should be sent to a country where their rights or freedoms may be at risk. The return of refugees, according to the agency’s position, must be voluntary, based on an informed decision, and take place in conditions of safety and dignity.
The agency called for people’s protection needs to be taken into account before their return to Myanmar and said it was ready to engage with the relevant authorities on protection guarantees. A representative of Malaysia’s Ministry of Home Affairs declined to comment on UNHCR’s statement, referring to the ministry’s previous remarks about the voluntary nature of the process.
Following the 2021 military coup, which triggered a nationwide civil war, thousands of people left Myanmar. As of February, around 193,800 refugees from Myanmar of various ethnic backgrounds, including Rohingya and Chin, were in Malaysia, according to UNHCR.
