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The UN refugee agency has called for stronger regional and international support to advance a political solution to the Rohingya crisis and help end the conflict in Myanmar.
The UNHCR made the call on Wednesday, urging 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 agency said.
The UNHCR also expressed concern over Malaysia’s recent return of 1,476 people to Myanmar amid the country’s ongoing conflict and severe humanitarian and human rights 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.
She noted that although Malaysian authorities described the returns as voluntary, the people involved 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 but urged the country to ensure strong safeguards for all returns, including individual assessments and access to protection procedures.
It said decisions to return people must be voluntary and made outside detention settings.
Under the principle of non-refoulement, people must not be returned to countries where they could face persecution, torture or other serious threats to their lives or freedom.
The UNHCR said it remained ready to work with Malaysia to strengthen its national asylum and protection mechanisms.
