Dhaka:UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has emphasized the need for increased regional and international support to advance a political solution to the Rohingya crisis and end the ongoing hostilities in Myanmar.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the UNHCR has urged the international community to continue supporting countries in the region that are hosting refugees from Myanmar.
The agency has expressed concern over Malaysia's recent return of 1,476 people to Myanmar while the country remains embroiled in conflict and faces significant human rights and humanitarian challenges. UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Edem Wosornu highlighted that these returns could pose serious risks to those sent back, emphasizing that some individuals may require international protection.
While Malaysian authorities assert that the returns were voluntary, the detainees had been held in immigration detention, raising concerns about the voluntariness and awareness of their decisions to return. The UNHCR was not granted access to assess the individuals involved.
Acknowledging Malaysia's sovereign right to manage asylum and migration, the UNHCR has called on the country to implement strong safeguards for returns, including individual assessments and access to protection procedures. The agency stressed that return decisions should be voluntary and made outside of detention environments.
The principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to countries where they may face persecution or other serious threats, should guide these processes. The UNHCR remains willing to collaborate with Malaysia to enhance national asylum and protection frameworks.