Malaysia: UN agency urges safeguards after refugees returned to Myanmar
UNHCR warns Malaysia’s return of 1,476 people to Myanmar risks violating international protection standards amid ongoing conflict and persecution risks.
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, expressed deep concern after Malaysia forcibly returned 1,476 individuals to Myanmar, a country gripped by civil war and severe human rights abuses. Deportations began on Tuesday, with authorities claiming the process was voluntary, though UNHCR noted the returnees had been held in immigration detention. The agency questioned whether decisions to return were truly free and informed, as it had no access to assess the individuals’ circumstances. UNHCR emphasized that returns must comply with international law, including robust safeguards and protection procedures.
UNHCR highlighted that Myanmar’s military, which seized power in 2021, has a history of targeting the Rohingya, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority. In 2017, a military operation in Rakhine state forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee to neighboring countries, including Bangladesh, where over a million now reside in Cox’s Bazar. The agency stressed that no one should be returned to a country where they face persecution, torture, or threats to life and freedom. It urged Malaysia to ensure returns are voluntary and assessed outside detention settings.
UNHCR acknowledged Malaysia’s sovereign responsibility to manage asylum and migration but called for strict adherence to international protection obligations. The agency reiterated that conditions in Myanmar do not currently allow for safe, dignified, or sustainable returns. It urged states to continue providing access to asylum until such conditions are met. The UN agency also emphasized the need for regional and international support to address the crisis in Myanmar.
The UN’s top humanitarian official condemned an airstrike on a market in Rakhine state that killed and injured dozens of civilians. Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher stressed the need to protect civilians and uphold international humanitarian law. UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the attack and called for accountability for those responsible. The strike occurred amid escalating violence in Myanmar, further complicating the humanitarian crisis.