World · Singapore Bureau
UN warns Malaysia over Myanmar deportations amid humanitarian crisis
The United Nations Refugee Agency has expressed alarm at Malaysia's deportation of over 1,000 people to Myanmar, citing grave humanitarian concerns in the Southeast Asian nation.
LSN Singapore ·
The UN's refugee agency flagged serious concerns Wednesday over Malaysia's decision to return more than 1,000 individuals to Myanmar, warning that the deportations pose significant risks given the deteriorating conditions across the country.
The agency cited the unstable security situation and humanitarian emergency gripping Myanmar as reasons for its alarm. The country has faced deepening instability since the military coup in February 2021, with widespread conflict, displacement, and shortages of essential services affecting millions of civilians.
The deportations represent a potential breach of international obligations regarding the non-refoulement principle, which prohibits returning people to territories where they face persecution or harm. Malaysia, which hosts one of Asia's largest refugee populations, has faced mounting pressure to manage its migrant and refugee communities.
The UN agency's statement underscores the precarious situation facing vulnerable populations fleeing Myanmar. Regional governments continue to grapple with the influx of asylum seekers and refugees, even as conditions in Myanmar deteriorate further.