Malaysia Returns 1,476 People to Myanmar Amid Ongoing Conflict, UNHCR Raises Concerns

Malaysia has sent 1,476 individuals back to Myanmar, a country still embroiled in conflict and facing severe human‑rights violations, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The agency warned that many of those returned had been held in immigration detention, raising doubts about whether the departures were truly voluntary or informed. UNHCR emphasized the need for robust safeguards, including independent assessments and access to protection procedures, to uphold the principle of non‑refoulement. While acknowledging Malaysia’s sovereign responsibility, the agency urged that returns only occur when conditions in Myanmar allow for safe, dignified, and sustainable repatriation. UNHCR called on the international community to continue supporting regional host countries and to push for a political resolution to the crisis.