UNHCR: No role in Malaysia’s repatriation of Myanmar refugees, warns country is still unsafe

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the U.N.’s refugee agency, said on Tuesday it was not involved in Malaysia’s planned repatriation of Myanmar refugees, ​and warned that it remains unsafe for them to return to ‌the war-torn country. Malaysia’s Home Ministry said last week it had finalised the first phase of a voluntary repatriation programme that will see 1,476 refugees returned ​to Myanmar on Sept. 29. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had ​earlier said Myanmar had agreed to repatriate 5,000 Rohingya, amid rising tensions ⁠over the refugees within local communities in Malaysia. The UNHCR said ​an ongoing armed conflict and violence across Myanmar meant there could ​not be a safe, dignified and sustainable voluntary return of refugees. “Under customary international law – a binding obligation on all states – 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 ⁠take place in conditions of safety and dignity,” it said in an emailed statement to Reuters. “UNHCR urges that careful consideration be given to the protection needs of all those concerned before they ​are returned to ​Myanmar, and ⁠stands ready to engage with relevant authorities on protection safeguards.” A Home Ministry spokesperson declined to comment ​on the UNHCR statement, referring to its earlier remarks ​that ⁠the repatriation process was voluntary. Thousands of refugees have fled Myanmar since a 2021 military coup that sparked a nationwide civil war. As of ⁠February, Malaysia ​had around 193,800 refugees from Myanmar ​of various ethnic nationalities, including Rohingya and Chin, according to UNHCR data. Activists, however, say ​many more remain unregistered. REUTERS