The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on Wednesday called for greater regional and international support to advance a political solution to the Rohingya crisis and end ongoing hostilities in Myanmar.
The UNHCR urged the international community to continue supporting countries in the region hosting refugees from Myanmar.
“Until conditions in Myanmar allow for safe, dignified and sustainable returns, states must continue to provide access to asylum and uphold international protection obligations,” the UN agency said, reports UNB.
The UNHCR expressed concern over Malaysia’s recent return of 1,476 people to Myanmar amid the country’s continuing conflict and severe human rights and humanitarian situation.
“We are concerned by these returns at a time when people sent back to Myanmar may face serious risks, and some within the group may be in need of international protection,” UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Edem Wosornu said on Wednesday.
“While authorities say the returns are voluntary, those returned had been held in immigration detention. This raises serious questions about whether decisions to return were genuinely free and informed. UNHCR did not have access to the individuals to assess this,” she said.
The UNHCR acknowledged Malaysia’s sovereign responsibility to manage asylum and migration issues. However, it urged the country to ensure all returns are carried out with strong safeguards, including individual assessments and access to protection procedures.
The agency said decisions on returns must be voluntary and made outside detention settings.
Under the principle of non-refoulement, no person should be returned to a country where they could face persecution, torture or other serious threats to their life or freedom.
The UNHCR said it remains ready to work with Malaysia to strengthen national asylum and protection arrangements.
