Asylum and Migration
Malaysia Returns Nearly 1,500 Refugees to Myanmar Amid Ongoing Civil War
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Malaysia returned nearly 1,500 Myanmarese refugees to their home country, which remains embroiled in civil war since the February 2021 military coup. On Tuesday, 1,476 individuals were transported by bus to Lumut port and then by ship to Myanmar, including 27 minors. This action marks the first phase of a plan to repatriate 5,000 people, announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs a month prior. While the Malaysian government claims the return is voluntary, UNHCR stated that ongoing conflict prevents safe and sustainable returns. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that Myanmar agreed to take back the refugees. Approximately 193,000 Myanmarese reside in Malaysia, with two-thirds belonging to the Rohingya minority.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's