Burmese refugees and asylum seekers started running to Malaysia more than 20 years ago and the number has increased since then. Currently, there are more than 60,000 Burmese refugees registered with UNHCR but thousands more are unregistered.
Between 2002 to 2008, more than 4,800 Burmese were whipped for immigration offences.
In 2008, 812 Burmese children were detained in immigration detention centres.
In May 2009, two Burmese asylum seekers died at the Juru detention centre due to Leptospirosis, a disease linked to contamination of food or water. In August/September 2009, another six Burmese died due to suspected Leptospirosis.
In Malaysia, many refugees live in poverty. They have difficulties finding jobs due to their illegal status. Even when they can find jobs, they are usually underpaid and vulnerable to abuse from unscrupulous employers.
Refugee children do not have access to public schools. As such, generations of uneducated refugees are being raised here in Malaysia.
As refugees remain unrecognized by the Malaysian Government, they live in constant fear of raids, arrest and detention. Conditions in detention centres face continuous problems of overcrowding, unhygienic conditions, malnourishment and ill-treatment of detainees. Once detained, they never know when they will be released. Many have died in detention centres.
They cannot go back to Burma for fear of their lives, and yet everyday they live in fear here.
1 October 2009
http://www.suaram.net/node/224
Between 2002 to 2008, more than 4,800 Burmese were whipped for immigration offences.
In 2008, 812 Burmese children were detained in immigration detention centres.
In May 2009, two Burmese asylum seekers died at the Juru detention centre due to Leptospirosis, a disease linked to contamination of food or water. In August/September 2009, another six Burmese died due to suspected Leptospirosis.
In Malaysia, many refugees live in poverty. They have difficulties finding jobs due to their illegal status. Even when they can find jobs, they are usually underpaid and vulnerable to abuse from unscrupulous employers.
Refugee children do not have access to public schools. As such, generations of uneducated refugees are being raised here in Malaysia.
As refugees remain unrecognized by the Malaysian Government, they live in constant fear of raids, arrest and detention. Conditions in detention centres face continuous problems of overcrowding, unhygienic conditions, malnourishment and ill-treatment of detainees. Once detained, they never know when they will be released. Many have died in detention centres.
They cannot go back to Burma for fear of their lives, and yet everyday they live in fear here.
1 October 2009
http://www.suaram.net/node/224
As Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees nor its 1967 Protocol, UNHCR is the main actor of protection and assistance for asylum-seekers and refugees in Malaysia. UNHCR conducts all activities related to the reception, registration, documentation and status determination of asylum-seekers and refugees.
Malaysia is a largely urban country, with 60 per cent of the population living in cities. Life for a refugee in Kuala Lumpur is challenging. Refugees cannot work legally and most live in fear of detention, despite having received a refugee card from UNHCR.
The address of UNHCR
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Address: 570, Jalan Bukit Petaling, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Telephone: (603) 2141 1322
Fax: (603) 2141 1780
Email: mlslu@unhcr.org
Related websites/blog
1.http://myanmarrefugees.blogspot.com/
2.http://www.suaram.net/node/224
3. http://www.unhcr.org.my/cms/basic-facts/unhcr-in-malaysia
4. Refugee in Malaysia, http://www.unhcr.org.my/project/unhcr/theme/images/swf/refugeesinmsia.swf
Malaysia is a largely urban country, with 60 per cent of the population living in cities. Life for a refugee in Kuala Lumpur is challenging. Refugees cannot work legally and most live in fear of detention, despite having received a refugee card from UNHCR.
The address of UNHCR
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Address: 570, Jalan Bukit Petaling, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Telephone: (603) 2141 1322
Fax: (603) 2141 1780
Email: mlslu@unhcr.org
Related websites/blog
1.http://myanmarrefugees.blogspot.com/
2.http://www.suaram.net/node/224
3. http://www.unhcr.org.my/cms/basic-facts/unhcr-in-malaysia
4. Refugee in Malaysia, http://www.unhcr.org.my/project/unhcr/theme/images/swf/refugeesinmsia.swf
Thank you very much for helping and caring us on going Burmese Refugees issues in Malaysai UHNCR . We the Burmese Rerugees hope and believed that there wil be a better tomorrow . Keep carry on your efforted of good job.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless UNHCR Malaysai.
Tluang Salai
California