Malaysia working with UNHCR on more secure refugee cards

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that the new cards have been issued since June under the collaboration between the Malaysian government and UNHCR. — file picturePUTRAJAYA, Aug 18 ― The Malaysian government is collaborating with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to issue new refugee identification cards with high security features, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

Zahid, who is also home minister, announced that the new cards have been issued since June under the collaboration between the Malaysian government and UNHCR.

“The issuance of the card will go through tight screening steps. Therefore, the process of replacing the old UNHCR cards will take a bit of time.

“This move is intended to tackle the problem of the issuance of fake UNHCR cards,” he said in a statement today after chairing a meeting on UNHCR-related issues.

Zahid also said a joint task force will be formed in which the UNHCR and Malaysia will work together to register and issue the new cards, but said the process of determining refugee status remains fully under the organisation based on the UN’s 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol.

The joint task force comprised senior officers from the Home Ministry, the National Security Council, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and UNHCR, he said.

On June 21, UNHCR Malaysia representative Richard Towle launched the new card with better security features to overcome past weaknesses that allowed counterfeiting.

According to a New Straits Times’ report then, Towle had said the new card is backed by better biometric data collection, besides including security features such as 3D holograms and bar codes.

The UNHCR had also launched the UNHCR VERIFY-MY mobile application, which Towle said would enable local enforcement agencies or those doing UNHCR work to scan the “Secure Quick Response” (SQR) code on the new cards to verify their authenticity.

UNHCR’s Senior Protection Officer (Oversight) Michael Wells had said the old version of the card was easier to replicate, while the new card had one of the best technologies globally with a biometric scan of fingers, face and retina.

The NST had earlier this year reported that there are syndicates selling counterfeit UNHCR cards ― that are only meant for verified refugees and asylum seekers ― to illegal immigrants.

http://www.themalaymailonline.com

Fake refugee cards out of UNHCR’s control

Commission representative Richard Towle maintains that refugee cards were only issued to those genuinely requiring protection.

PETALING JAYA: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says they have no control over fake refugee cards in the market given out to those willing to pay for it.

According to a report by The Star Online today, UNHCR Malaysia representative Richard Towle said recent news reports about the sale of fake cards had nothing to do with the commission.

He said UNHCR had issued some 158,000 cards and it was possible to replicate the features of a legitimate card in order to make a fake one.

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Towle said UNHCR was not concerned about the number of cards issued, as what was more important was that the cards had only been issued to those who actually required protection.

He noted that their card system was controlled tightly, and that UNHCR also collected the biometric data of the refugees, such as fingerprints and retinal scans.

The authenticity of a UNHCR card, could be checked by the authorities via the Internet or by calling a hotline, Towle explained, adding that the commission enjoyed a high degree of cooperation with the government at present.

Last week, a New Straits Times exposé revealed that fake UNHCR cards, complete with security features, could easily be obtained for only RM120 from syndicates involved in the business.

In the exposé, a syndicate member revealed that data for the card was retrieved from the Malaysian UNHCR database and that the same name would be used by many other fake cardholders.

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www.freemalaysiatoday.com

UNHCR unable to stop refugee card counterfeits

KUALA LUMPUR: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says it has no control over fake refugee cards being circulated, saying that the market exists as refugee status is not given out easily.

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UNHCR Malaysia representative Richard Towle said that they had issued about 158,000 cards and that it was possible to replicate features of a legitimate card to make a fake.

Towle said a card featured in a recent news report was fake, as its details did not match that in their database.

"Somebody in the community has paid money to get a false card, it has nothing to do with the UNHCR," Towle told The Star Online.

Towle said that UNHCR had robust and rigorous procedures to decide on a person's refugee status, adding that their card system was controlled very tightly.

He said that they collected biometric data such as fingerprints and even retinal scans.

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"We have procedures so the most vulnerable people get our help as quickly as possible," he said.

Towle added they were not concerned about the number of cards issued, saying that it was more important that it was issued to those who actually needed protection.

He said that local authorities could verify if a UNHCR card was genuine via the Internet or by calling a hotline, and added that they had a high degree of cooperation with the Government.

As of end February 2016, there are some 158,510 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Malaysia with about 145,000 of them from Myanmar.

There are another 14,120 refugees and asylum-seekers from other countries, including from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Somalia, Syrian, Iraq, Yemen, Palestine and Iran.

Refugees in Malaysia: Victims of their identity — Shaun Kang

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MARCH 19 — I refer to the news report on March 17, 2016 titled “Cops warn of crime spike as cartels sell fake refugee cards to illegal immigrants.” Firstly, I share the authorities’ concern that the rising number of illegal immigrants is indeed troubling and should be addressed.

However, this concern should not serve to distort the distinction between refugees and illegal immigrants (including those who attempt to pose as refugees). Nor should it emit fear among the authorities for UNCHR to continue issuing identity cards (“refugee cards”).

Who are refugees and what are refugee cards?

Refugees are persons defined and protected by international law (in particular, the Refugee Convention). For a person to be recognised as a refugee, they would first have to undergo a complex interview and fact-finding process conducted by highly skilled and trained persons (often experts in the fields, including lawyers trained in international law).

A person will only be recognised as a refugee if he or she meets certain stringent criteria stipulated by the Refugee Convention. In Malaysia, this pivotal role of determining an applicant’s status is carried out by UNHCR on behalf of the government.

Essentially, refugees are not in Malaysia on their own terms. Rather, they are fellow human beings, who flee from their country for a variety of reasons, often including, torture, murder, rape, arbitrary arrests and deprivation of citizenship.

Further, refugees are not here with the intention to live indefinitely but are usually on transit, awaiting resettlement to a third country. The refugee card, which is often the only form of personal identification for a refugee, also commonly serves as the only means for UNHCR and the authorities to identify and distinguish between a refugee and an economic migrant.


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UNHCR and refugee cards

I turn to address the point made on UNHCR’s lack of legal standing to issue refugee cards. Firstly, the issuance of an identity document by UNHCR is not only practically necessary for monitoring and enforcement exercises but also consistent with the Refugee Convention and universal principles of International Law.

The government’s stance on the issuance of this identity document is arguable. In reality, UNHCR has been present in Malaysia for more than 40 years and its involvement in recognizing and documenting refugees throughout the years has never faced much objection from the authorities.

On one end, the authorities are now questioning the legality of UNHCR in issuing refugee cards, but on the other, it is evident that refugee cards are instrumental for the authorities in identity verification exercises. In fact, in countries where the government undertakes the responsibility of issuing refugee cards to refugees, UNHCR does not issue such cards but merely facilitates the government.

It is regrettable that the integrity of the refugee recognition process employed by UNHCR is being put to question. As explained, the detailed process carried out by UNHCR’s officers before recognising an applicant as a refugee is in line with international law and standards, therefore such claims are unwarranted.

It is also inaccurate to assume that UNHCR Malaysia has been unco-operative with the authorities in the verification of the authenticity of refugee cards. As it appears, UNHCR has a dedicated system catering for law enforcers to verify the identity of a refugee in Malaysia. 

UNHCR appears also to have played an active role in assisting the authorities to verify such persons by visiting detention centers and being present during raids carried out by authorities. Further, UNHCR has shown its commitment in cooperation by sharing its database with the authorities.



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Moving forward

It appears that the focus should not be on the legality and the process of recognizing refugees by UNHCR but rather, the need to improve the security features of the refugee card to ensure that it cannot be easily duplicated and that its authenticity can be easily verified by UNHCR and the authorities.

While the physical card itself is of importance, the involvement of the authorities in the process of documenting refugees is all the more pertinent.

UNHCR is seen to advocate this particularly when it invited the co-operation and involvement of the authorities by urging them to issue biometric identity cards for refugees. Legally, the government appears to have an international legal obligation to recognise UNHCR and to co-operate with it in the international protection of refugees even though Malaysia is not a party to the Refugee Convention.

It is important that the authorities take cognisance of the importance of the identity card issued by UNHCR, and of UNHCR’s presence in Malaysia.

Instead of identifying UNHCR as the source of the problem, it should be agreed that the involvement of UNHCR in the recognition of refugees in the past 40 years has to a great extent alleviated the difficulties that the authorities would have otherwise faced in handling refugees.

Ultimately, the success of weeding out illegal immigrants from refugees is contingent on the co-operation between the authorities and UNHCR on the basis of a common understanding.

* Shaun Kang is a researcher in international law.

** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com


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UN body welcomes offer to take in Syrian refugees

United Nations refugee agency UNHCR welcomes Malaysia's announcement that it will take in 3,000 Syrian refugees, but also hopes for more efforts to assist the thousands already on Malaysian soil.

Its representative in Malaysia Richard Towle said there are about 154,000 refugees from various countries in Malaysia who require assistance.

"Now is a good time to look at this," he said.

This includes providing means for the refugee community to be assisted in a "more legal way".

He said this is better than leaving them to the "rather dark area of society".

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak told the UN General Assembly on Thursday that Malaysia will accept 3,000 Syrian refugees over a period of three years.

Towle said UNHCR has no details yet over how this will happen.

There are 970 Syrian refugees registered with UNHCR in Malaysia as at August.

Malaysia is not a signatory to the UN convention to protect refugees, despite being a transit point for thousands every year.

Refugees, including the 50,000-plus Rohingya residing in Malaysia, are considered illegal migrants and are barred from formal employment.

Some have resorted to using fake documents to secure a livelihood, a move Towle said UNHCR does not support.

Sailing season soon

Malaysia came under international scrutiny in May when boats laden with hundreds of distressed persons from Myanmar and Bangladesh washed up on Malaysian shores, after people smugglers abandoned their human cargo amid a crackdown.

Towle said the same crisis is about to hit home again, with "sailing season" around the corner.

"We do understand more boats are coming from these countries.

"We need to strategise and plan. We have learnt a lot from what happened in May," he said.

Malaysia took in several hundreds who arrived during the May crisis and housed them in holding camps in Kedah, where at least one has died from disease.

This followed the grizzly discovery of mass graves near camps used by people smugglers, along the Malaysian-Thai border in Perlis. - M'kini

Full article: http://malaysia-chronicle.com

For these scouts, "camping" means coming home

29 September 2015

© UNHCR/K Suntayodom

Reunited after seven years, resettled refugees Lwel Say (left), Lwel Gay Htoo and their aunt Tha Dah Wah stroll through Mae La camp where they were born and bred.

MAE LA CAMP, Thailand, Sept 29 (UNHCR) – They live by the motto, Be Prepared, as members of the Utah Boy Scouts of America Troop. But nothing could have prepared them for the rush of emotions that greeted them in Mae La refugee camp.

The 18 Myanmar refugee boys had flown with their scout leader from Salt Lake City in the United States to Japan for the World Scout Jamboree before arriving in Bangkok for a seven-hour bus ride to reach this camp in western Thailand's Tak province. They were visibly tired but excited as they scoured the crowd for familiar faces – loved ones they had not seen since leaving the camp in UNHCR's resettlement program almost 10 years ago.

The faces of Brothers Lwel Say, 16, and Lwel Gay Htoo, 14, lit up when they found their aunt, Tha Dah Wah, 24. "I'm very excited, very happy and I want to cry," she said. After seven years apart, the boys were now taller than her, but the younger one still clung to her hand as they walked through the camp.

The brothers have come a long way – not just in terms of distance but also experience. Born in exile, Mae La camp was the only world they knew. Daily life revolved around school, play and evening lessons with their teacher-mother. They wore old clothes full of holes and considered themselves lucky to wear flip flops where other kids ran around in their bare feet.

"We used to ask our parents – how will our future be? They always said they didn't know," said Lwel Gay Htoo.

Back then, ethnic conflict in south-eastern Myanmar seemed intractable and the refugees faced the prospect of spending a lifetime in Thailand's camps. In 2005, UNHCR started a group resettlement program to give some of them a new lease on life.

"My parents decided to register for the resettlement program because they hoped for better education for me and my brothers and sisters, so we would have better lives," said Eh Nay Ler, 17, another member of the visiting team.

© UNHCR/P Tonjunpong

Resettled refugee Eh Nay Ler shows his grandmother in Mae La camp photos of his life in the United States.

Life in the United States was not easy at first. Many struggled with the new environment, culture and language. The Lwel brothers improved their English by watching cartoons while Eh Nay Ler persisted by listening to his teachers. These young men eventually joined the Utah Boy Scouts – comprising some 100 resettled Myanmar refugees – through which they volunteer weekly and help the homeless in their new community.

"Resettling in America gave is a new, fresh start in life. It's given us freedom, rights, better education and welfare that would have been impossible if we still lived in the camp. Without the resettlement program, I could have married early or gone bad," said Lwel Say, who admitted to being "totally stubborn" and "spoilt" in the past.

Eh Nay Ler agreed: "I am very thankful for the life I've been given. Without support from UNHCR, the resettlement country and donors, I would probably be picking corn for a living with my grandmother."

Despite their gratitude, the boys clearly missed the relatives they left behind, including grandparents who felt they were too old to travel and extended family members who had either opted to stay or were unregistered and thus not eligible for resettlement under Thai regulations.

The Lwel brothers' aunt chose to stay for a university scholarship in Thailand, after which she plans to teach in the camp.

This spirit of giving back is not lost on the resettled boys. Lwel Say hopes to come back to Mae La to be a teacher when he graduates from high school in two years.

Fellow Scout Hay Soe, 16, waxed nostalgic when he visited his old school in the camp: "One day I will come back here and be a teacher. I will teach math or science because I love these subjects and I want to work for refugees in Thailand."

Nearly 100,000 Myanmar refugees have been resettled to third countries such as Australia, Canada, Denmark, Japan and the United States since 2005. Some 110,000 remain in nine camps along the Thailand-Myanmar border.

By Korapin Suntayodom & Pathamawan Tonjunpong,

In Mae La camp, Thailand

Sources : UNHCR

Eyes Wide Shut: The challenge of humanitarian biometrics

The use of biometrics clearly has a role to play in humanitarianism. The challenge, says IRIN columnist Paul Currion, is to protect the disadvantaged, whose identities may be vital for accessing government services, while preventing powerful states and private companies who may seek to experiment or exploit.

By Paul Currion 

Photo: Petty Officer 2nd Class David Brandenburg/U.S. Navy

An Afghan policeman looks into a biometric eye scanner

BELGRADE, 26 August 2015 (IRIN) - Biometrics, for those of you who haven't spent the last 10 years swearing at the automated passport gates at Heathrow, is the use of human measurements for identification. The most familiar biometrics are fingerprints, but the computer-powered scanning of eyes and faces is being implemented in a growing range of contexts. The origins of modern biometrics lies in the identification of criminals, but it was the war on terror that turned biometrics into the $13.8 billion industry it is today.

As a result the technology has leapt ahead in recent years – and leapt into some surprising places. You might use your fingerprint to access your smartphone, but everybody gets fingerprinted now, including schoolchildren. Facebook can recognise you even if it can’t see your face, but even music festival organisershave decided that facial recognition technology is a good bet. Despitelongstanding concerns about privacy, biometrics clearly have their uses, and a growing range of sectors have been implementing them – including the humanitarian industry.

Biometrics in the humanitarian context are ostensibly focused on preventing identity fraud, but the basic dynamic was captured in this 2006 report from the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, in Malaysia:

“Nang Piang, a refugee from Myanmar, placed his finger tentatively on the biometrics scanner... ‘I don't know what it is for, but I do what UNHCR wants me to do,’ he said... ‘This is an important step for UNHCR Malaysia as we strengthen the security of our registration system to prevent fraud,’ said Volker Türk, head of UNHCR in Malaysia, ‘Such a security measure will certainly enhance the credibility of UNHCR's registration system in the eyes of the Malaysian government...’”

This statement makes clear that biometric registration is driven by the interests of national governments, technology companies and aid agencies – in that order. 

UNHCR's biometric system was initially funded by the EU and the US (specifically recommending funding “for early UNHCR use of mobile fingerprint technology developed by [the Department of Homeland Security]”). A number of companies have since been involved, including PA Consulting, who previously helped the UK government develop its border control biometrics, and one of whose former employees now works for the UN, overseeing global deployment of the system.

Critics of the industry focus on two concerns. Security is one: in 2008, for example, PA Consulting lost 84,000 biometric UK prisoner records – not through an act of cyber-crime, but because they were left on an unencrypted USB stick in an unlocked drawer in an unsecured office. Privacy, the second issue, is sometimes even more critical from a humanitarian perspective, because the privacy of vulnerable communities and individuals – many of whom may already be fleeing conflict or persecution – may be critical for their protection.

UNHCR has argued that biometric registration improves protection for refugees, but the question is clearly not settled. A recent study by Katja Lindskov Jacobsen pointed out that – while biometric registration may help to mitigate some vulnerabilities – the creation of the “digital refugee” may also create new vulnerabilities. These arrive precisely because this data can be shared between different actors for more than one purpose; to address problems faced by refugees, yes, but in a different context to frame refugees as the problem.

Government assurances of privacy are no guarantee. The European Commission promised that its EURODAC database of asylum applications would be protected, right up until 2012 when it agreed to allow Europol and other law enforcement agencies access to it. UNHCR expressed concerns about this, but the Commission went ahead anyway. UNHCR plunged on towards a global and centralised Biometric Identity Management System (BIMS) while only adopting adata protection policy in May 2015 – a policy that explicitly states that UNHCR “may transfer personal data [of refugees] to third parties.” That policy has safeguards built in, but the security of your data is only as secure as the weakest link in your chain – and, as noted above, that link might simply be somebody who forgets their USB stick.

This fits with a wider and more worrying pattern in the field of biometrics: it'smarginalised groups who are used as guinea pigs for new biometric applications, always with claims that it's for their own benefit. Privacy International has identified that in countries where democratic processes – such as parliamentary oversight and the rule of law – function more effectively, biometric schemes have been repeatedly challenged and rolled back by informed citizens. The real issue here is accountability – or lack thereof – precisely because humanitarian biometrics are being implemented in countries where those factors are weak to non-existent.

For example: one of the earliest uses of humanitarian biometrics dates back to 2003, helping UNHCR to establish that only 0.5% of Afghan returnees from Pakistan were trying to game the Afghanistan refugee return programme. Current President Ashraf Ghani promoted biometrics as the foundation for his country's social policy in his 2006 book “Fixing Failed States”, and the Afghan authorities have made it their goal “to fingerprint, photograph and scan the irises of every living Afghan.” This has made Afghanistan the most biometrically identifiable country in the world – although UNHCR and the Afghan government have both invested heavily in biometric databases, the US military has been the real driving force.

The use of biometrics clearly has benefits. The Centre for Global Development has given cautious and context-specific support to the broader principle of incorporating biometrics to bridge what they refer to as the identity gap – on the basis that the vulnerable and marginalised are usually required to submit to biometric registration to enable them to access government services. TheColumbia Human Rights Law Review comes down on the side of the legality and efficiency of biometric ID cards for refugees, if privacy concerns are fully addressed.

Photo: J. Ose/UNHCR Ethiopia

A member of a Somali family is fingerprinted by UNHCR staff

Yet it seems obvious that the individuals being registered are unlikely to be fully aware of the implications: a UNHCR article quotes Congolese refugee Olivier Mzaliwa saying: “I can be someone now. I am registered globally with the UN and you’ll always know who I am.” Even assuming that Olivier has been well-informed about the possible downsides of his registration (which seems doubtful, since it's not clear that UNHCR field staff themselves will be aware of these issues), he no longer has any control over this data about himself – and it is doubtful he has any means to regain that control, or even to find out how the data is being used. There is still a massive accountability gap.

Depending on where you lie on the political spectrum, registration of your identity is either an invaluable tool in the fight against poverty or an additional chapter in Seeing Like A State – although it’s probably both. Either way, the use of biometrics is only going to increase, particularly as we move towards mainstreaming cash distribution, where registration and verification are critical to ensure effective targeting and monitoring. Given this trend, we have an obligation to avoid using the bodies of the poor as experimental subjects, subject to an implicit assumption that they are all criminals – if not now, then at some unspecified point in the future.

We’ve seen in this article how biometric systems design has privileged the point of view of humanitarian organisations or national governments. Is it possible to develop a new design approach for managing identity, one that isn't a second-hand solution from companies looking to expand their market?

World Vision has explored one alternative in developing its Last Mile Mobile Solutions, making its concerns about biometrics clear. Building on this and other efforts, and incorporating the principles of participatory design, our starting point should be designing from the point of view of refugees, rather than our own organisations. Unfortunately the humanitarian community consistently fails to engage with that perspective, but this debate is more critical than ever, and not just for biometrics. The debate around design imperialism has died down, but it hasn’t disappeared, and digital design is becoming increasingly important.

So next time you’re swearing at the biometric passport scanner at the airport, remember that although your passport gives you the freedom to travel, that freedom is subject to surveillance and control. You might have more in common with refugees like Olivier Mzaliwa than you think; but unlike Olivier, at least you can choose your queue at the airport.

Sources : http://www.irinnews.org

More action needed to tackle IDP issues: UN

Special to Myanmar Eleven January 5, 2015 1:00 am

More action is needed to deal with internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan states, said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

In its updated operations profile for 2015, the UNHCR said fresh displacement was witnessed in 2014, with continued clashes between the Myanmar national army and non-state groups in Kachin and northern Shan states.

A crucial source in humanitarian aid to the people, the agency noted that significant numbers of IDPs in Kachin and Rakhine states continue to live in camp settings. 

In the coming year, the agency will focus its attention on people without citizenship, IDPs, refugees, returnees and host communities.

In 2012, violence in Rakhine State forced around 140,000 people to flee their homes. The majority live in government-designated IDP camps near the state capital, Sittwe, and in surrounding townships.

In Kachin State and northern Shan State, more than 100,000 IDPs are displaced and in need of continued humanitarian assistance. They are living in camps in both government-controlled areas and those under the control of non-state actors.

In Rakhine State, space in IDP camps is severely limited, and efforts to provide basic relief services have met severe challenges. The situation for most IDPs deteriorated in 2014, particularly in the areas of health coverage and non-food items distribution. The premises and warehouses of the UN and many other international NGOs were attacked and ransacked in early 2014.

"The inter-agency response in Rakhine State has repeatedly emphasised the need for durable solutions for IDPs. At present, there is a continued policy by the government to physically separate the conflicting communities, which limits reconciliation efforts and space for supporting coexistence," the agency noted.

Rakhine State is home to a large Muslim community. Tensions between Buddhist and Muslim communities have affected hundreds of thousands of families since violence between the two erupted in 2012.

Meanwhile, more than 100,000 IDPs live in Kachin State and northern Shan State. The UNHCR has seen the budget for its operations rise since 2012, when a ceasefire between the Myanmar army and the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) broke down.

"Continued clashes between the Myanmar national army and non-state actors in Kachin and northern Shan states in 2014 led to more displacement and a need for an emergency response. The inter-agency response relies on permission from the Myanmar government to access IDPs in areas under the control of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). As a result, only ad hoc missions are undertaken to these areas, limiting the response," the agency said.

It added that protection activities would continue for both Kachin and Rakhine states this year, depending on the conditions of the operational areas, particularly the level of access.

Home returning 

The agency is now working on sending refugees back to Myanmar. 

"In the southeast of Myanmar, UNHCR continues to perform return monitoring to identify the destination of refugees settling back in Myanmar. The aim is to build a profile of areas where interventions can be planned if the scale of returns increases, enabling the Office to respond once spontaneous returns increase. Planning for return is ongoing, including consultations with Myanmar refugees on the Thai border," the UNHCR said.

Residents of Kayin State fled to the Myanmar-Thailand border and overseas due to clashes between the Myanmar government troops and the Karen National Union (KNU). At present, there are about 100,000 refugees. Most of them live in any of the nine refugee camps along the Myanmar-Thailand border built by the UN and INGOs.

"We have to clear land for their living, and the relocation process will go forward only if the programmes to support them are planned. There are civic and social organisations involved, but we still need to include organisations related with the army," said Pahdo Saw Hla Tun, a central committee member of KNU.

Following the military coup in Thailand, there was a move to repatriate up to 120,000 Myanmar refugees living in temporary camps in Thailand. Many of the refugees have been in the camps for years, and an entire younger generation was born and raised in them.

General Prayuth Chan-o-cha, chief of Thailand's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), said that returning the refugees was one of the issues discussed during his meeting with Myanmar Armed Forces chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on July 4 in Bangkok. 

The UNHCR noted that increased interest among refugees in returning to Myanmar requires budget estimates that cover potential activities, should conditions be deemed conducive.

"Significant financial support may be needed in 2015 to support shelter repair and maintenance in Rakhine and Kachin states. Given the above, the 2015 budget for Myanmar is set at US$67.8 million," the agency said. 

The agency is planning support for around 20,000 potential returnees in 2015, although conditions are not yet sufficient to support any organised voluntary return.

Planning figures in 2015 

Type/origin/January/December 

Returnee arrivals (ex-refugees) /Myanmar/10,050/40,500

Internally displaced/Myanmar/587,000/514,000

People in IDP-like situations/Myanmar/35,000/35,000 

Returnee arrivals (ex-IDPs)/Myanmar/55,000/78,000

Stateless/stateless/810,000/810,000

Total/ 1,497,050/1,477,500 

Source: UNHCR

Be The One To Empower Refugees ( 4 )

From Editor’s Desk

Dear readers,

It’s amazing to know the various skills refugees bring into this country, especially delicious ethnic culinary, beading and embroidery skills, and unique handicrafts.

SPF recently initiated a skills-exchange programme with YWCA-VTOC. Refugee women taught the art of fruit and vegetable carving to 19 VTOC students, and beading to 15 other VTOC students. In exchange, VTOC trainers provided baking lessons to 40 refugee women.

YOUTH COLLECTIVES

“We want a platform to discuss, share and decide on issues concerning refugee youths”, says Andrew, the newly elected chairperson of Youth Collectives (YC). YC is a new initiative
by SPF to foster sustainable youth teams from diverse refugee groups.

Currently the YC comprises Sri Lankan, Myanmar and Somali refugee youths. They have enlisted members aged 14 to 25 years regardless of their gender, ethnicity, or religion. There are now 26,910 refugees youths aged between 14-25 years registered with UNHCR.

Refugees from Myanmar and Afghanistan for instance, still preserve their traditional skills which are slowly dying in an increasingly modern world. Those are skills that are highly valued.

Refugees are willing to teach, if Malaysians are willing to learn. Skills and knowledge exchanges will help to foster peaceful co-existence among refugees and local communities. And it is greatly empowering for both sides.
Be the one to initiate it! Contact SPF to
learn how you can help.

The group’s vision is to unite refugee youths, provide learning opportunities
for them and establishing PEACE between local and refugee youths.

At the YC elections held on 21 June 2012, and attended by 55 youths, 13 executive committee members were elected. They have taken responsibility to implement four projects – peer counseling support, advance IT course, fundraising through cultural night and outreach for membership.

It’s very fulfilling to see young people interacting with each other despite
cultural and language barriers, for a common, good cause.

REFUGEE EMPOWERMENT TRAINING

by SPF Team

When they stepped off the bus at the Skytrex Adventure Park that Sunday morning on 8 July, none of the community project coordinators ever imagined that the empowerment training they were about to undergo would include them wearing a harness, being blindfolded, and made to walk backwards on pipes suspended 20 meters above the ground!

Guided by two volunteers from the Netherlands, Cynthia and Roderick, the project coordinators spent the day learning teamwork on a whole new level, with fresh perspectives. The first half was spent brushing up on their theoretical knowledge.

After a quick lunch, they then spent the afternoon completing the practical training component, which included devising ways to ensure an egg stayed intact after a 2-meter drop!

Then came time to cast aside any fear of heights and test their agility when they got to walk, crawl, glide and swing from tree to tree to complete the aerial challenges.

Needless to say, the project coordinators thoroughly enjoyed the experience. They left Skytrex feeling empowered, motivated and eager to put their newly-acquired skills to good use in managing their SPF projects.

Rohingya children on par with local kids!

by Soraya Alkaff-Gilmour, Soroptomist International Johor

The Kulai School children did their first ever performance at Taman Sutera Mall on 14 July. The school was opened on the 2 May, and now they have shown and given themselves a chance to prove that they are "on par" with our local children.

Three student interns from AIESEC - Jam (Vietnam), Pamela (China) and Joanne (Hong Kong) managed in 3 weeks to organize different ethnic songs and dances. With the great help of our teachers, Mary and Elizabeth, the children were dancing and shaking along with Bollywood music, with two solo singers who put P. Ramlee to shame!!

The good news is that the Management of Taman Sutera Development Sdn Bhd has kindly promised to look into helping the school in response to our “very long wish list". They contributed to the purchasing of costumes for the 22 children who participated in the event. They also treated the kids to a great meal at KFC after the performance.

We wish to say a special thank you to one of the parents, Mr. Aziz, in helping us get a free bus to shuttle the children.

For those who missed the performance - we have another show at 1.00pm on 4 August at the same place. We sincerely hope to see you all there!

Our best wishes to Soroptomist International Johor, for their tireless contribution to refugees, especially for the Rohingya refugee community.

Source : SPF, UNHCR Malaysia

Refugees continue to face uncertain future in our region — Gerhard Hoffstaedter

JUNE 26 — World Refugee Day yearly draws attention to the plight of over 40 million people who are either refugees, internally displaced or seeking asylum and the 800,000, who are newly displaced across borders in 2011. This global population almost twice the size of Australia’s population demands more efforts to support them.

Globally the main source countries of refugees and asylum seekers are Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia, together accounting for over five million according to the just released UNHCR Global Trends Report 2011. Regionally Myanmar/Burma remains the largest issue with hundreds of thousands residing in regional neighbouring countries such as Thailand, Bangladesh, India and Malaysia.

Australia has been a major resettlement country for our regional neighbours for a long time, perhaps most visibly starting with the resettlement of Vietnamese refugees n the 1980s. However, the current yearly scheduled intake of around 13,750 refugees (2010-2011 figures are 13,799) is paltry compared to most other Western industrialised nations. Alone UNHCR resettlement figures show Australia doing its bit with over 9,200 places in 2011 mainly from regional UNHCR offices.

The Bali Process and other regional instruments have hitherto been mainly deployed to shore up Australian efforts to keep asylum seekers and irregular migrants at bay, i.e. trapped within the borders of our neighbours. Yet, a regional solution to what amounts to a regional refugee crisis is paramount.

Such a regional solution will invariably involve sharing the burden of our neighbours and not just the financial burdens. This will involve increasing the yearly intake for resettlement from the region, particularly Malaysia, in exchange for tighter and more coordinated border security efforts with especially Indonesia.

Even though the ‘swap deal’ with Malaysia did not come to fruition, the attention it has cast upon the situation for refugees and asylum seekers there has to be maintained. Malaysia is home to an ever-increasing population of forcibly displaced people, most are from Myanmar/Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi has aptly warned of too much optimism about the political situation in her home and Australia’s move to lift its sanctions regime is unduly rewarding the Myanmar government for minor reform steps.

Thousands continue to flee ethnic and religious tensions, suppression, forced labour and a myriad of other human rights abuses by the Burmese military and a systematic process of marginalisation of ethnic groups, especially Christian groups such as the Chin, Kachin and Karen peoples.

Many of them come to Malaysia via Thailand to seek protection. However, “The Search: Protection Space in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, The Philippines and Cambodia in Practice,” a report released by the Jesuit Refugee Services Asia-Pacific shows that protection spaces in Southeast Asia are insufficient, forcing many to keep moving in search for more adequate and safer refuge.

Malaysia now houses one of the largest urban refugee populations in the region. Some figures place as many as 60,000 in the sprawling city of Kuala Lumpur alone. Many Myanmar minority ethnic groups such as the Chin, a Christian group from Chin state in Northwest Myanmar/Burma, are waiting patiently to be registered by the UNHCR in Kuala Lumpur. This is the most pressing issue for asylum seekers in Malaysia and the region, as the UNHCR card they receive will give them some recognition and protection from the police and immigration officials.

Registration was suspended in early 2010 and funds are urgently needed for the UNHCR and its community partners to resume the mammoth task of registering tens of thousands of asylum seekers in Malaysia alone. Registration is just a first step, but an indispensible one, for it gives refugees recognition and freedom of movement. Those without cards risk arrest and detention, some do not leave the house out of fear.

Once they are registered they have another long wait ahead of them for resettlement to a third country, mostly the United States of America, some European countries and Australia. While some can achieve this transition and resettlement within three years, many have waited a lot longer. Some have been in Malaysia for over 10 years. In this time they have to hold down jobs to survive, some have married and started families — all long for a future in which they can take their destiny in their own hands.

In the current limbo they inhabit they face exploitation, harassment and the challenges of everyday life in a country that does not want them and barely tolerates their existence. Yet, things used to be even worse. Detention, whipping for immigration offences and raids by immigration officials have all decreased and there is a cautionary sense of calm amongst some refugee communities.

A critical US report on its human rights situation and the ‘Australia-Malaysia swap deal’ caused the Malaysian government to reconsider its treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. With concerted Australian support and pressure on the Malaysian government and funding of strategic partners such as the UNHCR and community and civil society partners asylum seekers can get better protection. Now is the time to build on the positive improvements and keep the attention and resources focused on those who need it most — refugees and asylum seekers in our region. — Anthropolitics.wordpress.com

Source : http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

More funding needed for Burmese refugees: BCUK

 Mizzima News

Burma Campaign UK has called on Britain to double funding for the Thailand-Burma Border Consortium (TBBC), which provides food and shelter for Burmese refugees, following Aung San Suu Kyi’s plea for aid to refugees in her Nobel speech on Saturday.
                                                                                                                                                                        

A street in the Mae La Refugee Camp on the Thai-Burma border. Almost 140,000 Karen refugees have been living in Thai refugee camps for up to 20 years. The minority ethnic group fled their country in the 1990s following a major offensive by the Burmese government army against the Karen National Union. Photo: AFP

“When I was at the Mae La refugee camp in Thailand recently, I met dedicated people who were striving daily to make the lives of the inmates as free from hardship as possible,” Suu Kyi said in the speech delivered in Oslo on Sunday. “They spoke of their concern over ‘donor fatigue,’ which could also translate as ‘compassion fatigue.’"

Around 150,000 refugees from Burma live in camps on the Thailand -Burma border, BCUK said in a statement on Sunday. The camps face ration cuts of 25 per cent and cuts in other essentials such as clothing, blankets and shelter, it said.

The BCUK said the European Union has reduced funding for TBBC.  Another reason for a funding shortfall, it said, is the rising costs of essentials such as rice, and to compensate for lower exchange rates.

British aid to Burma has been quadrupled in recent years, it said.

In the last Britain Parliamentary session, more than 60 MPs signed an Early Day Motion calling for funding to the Thailand Burma Border Consortium to be significantly increased. Overall, the refugees are facing a funding shortfall of around US$ 5-10 million, said the BCUK.

“Aung San Suu Kyi has delivered a clear message that she wants to see funding for refugees increased,” said Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK.

Suu Kyi visited the Mae La camp near Mae Sot, Thailand, on June 3 during her foreign trip outside of Burma in 24 years. There are more than more than 140,000 Burmese refugees, mostly ethnic Karen, living in 10 camps along the 1,800km Thai-Burmese border.

Suu Kyi was not allowed to use a loud-speaker to address the refugees, Mizzima reported. But, standing on a chair to make herself visible, she was allowed to speak briefly to the crowd of well-wishers and supporters at a medical clinic.

Observers said Thai authorities restricted Suu Kyi’s movements in deference to Burmese authorities, who voiced disappointment with the scope of Suu Kyi’s actions and her extensive media exposure in Thailand during her first trip abroad.

According to the Thai-Burma Border Consortium (TBBC), an umbrella group of NGOs working along the border, there are more than 140,000 Burmese refugees, mostly ethnic Karen, living in 10 camps along the 1,800km Thai-Burmese border, including more than 53,000 unregistered people.

In eastern Burma, particularly in Karen state, healthcare and education standards are rated among the worst in Asia. The sprawling Mae La camp houses close to 50,000 people, some of whom have lived there for decades.

Art With Heart : A Refugee Art Project

Many of us live our lives oblivious to what’s happening around us. How often do we remind our kids how fortunate they are when there are other less fortunate kids out there who some, don’t have the luxury of cuddling with their loved ones, or have a formal education or just have a childhood?

The United Nations Refugee Agency Malaysia (UNHCR)  is mandated to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugess and asylum-seekers worldwide and they have been working to protect and assist refugess in Malaysia since 1975.

These refugees are not criminals nor are they parasites.   Their intention is not to take away the jobs in the country.   They are courageous people with strength and determination to move on and build new lives for themselves with hopes that one day, their country will be safe for them to go back to and if not, they just want to have a chance to have a life – like everyone else. There are not only men and women involved but also children – who’s only hope is to have a normal childhood with lots of love and an education. 13,800 refugee children in Malaysia are of school-going age and less than 40% of them have no access to formal education. Those that do have access  to a formal education attend classes that are run by UNHCR and NGOs  or community-based education classes that are organized by refugee communities themselves. However, these children are no as lucky as our children. They have classes in cramped, rented shop houses or flats where the rooms are converted into classrooms and are mostly lack of basic teaching facilities and qualified teachers.

UNHCR seeks long term solutions for refugees including finding them new homes in third countries or helping them return home voluntarily when it is safe to do so. While they are seeking temporary protection in Malaysia, UNHCR works with partners to create a safe and secure environment for them where their basic needs are met.

In the spirit of spreading the word about the Refugee Camp, GIN & JACQIE™ threw an art contest for the children and called it Art with Heart : A Refugee Art Project.

The children were provided with all the necessary materials which included the theme – ‘Happiness’.

Mary, a 15 year old refugee child from Myanmar was chosen out of hundreds of children. Her piece was an ode to her mother whom she had lost recently.

 ”I painted love,” said Mary, “When my mother passed away, I was scared. But I know her love is always with me. And that makes me happy.”

GIN & JACQIE™ printed her artwork onto canvas bags, and these bags are  available for purchase from here starting 20th June  2012.  All proceeds will go to the aid of education for the children, which includes basic needs, books, and stipends for teachers.

If you would like to be a volunteer or just find out more about the refugees in Malaysia and what UNHCR is doing to help them, log on to www.unhcr.org.my.

Spread the word on how we can support the refugees in Malaysia. Do your bit in giving back to the society.

 

Source : http://www.mom2ashley.com

 

 

Remembering the refugees among us

United Nations bring asylum seekers' plight to light through art

Thursday, June 21, 2012 - 14:21

By Reena Raj

Location: 

IPOH

AGAINST ALL ODDS: The winners of the art competition with Vernon (second from left) and Henry (right) holding up the canvas bag printed with Mary's painting

AT 12, he was forced to flee his homeland. His only link to his father now is one precious phone call a month.

All Zein Iapipd wants is for his country Palestine to be at peace so that he can return home.

Having called Malaysia home for the last five years, Zein was one of many refugee children who attended the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' (UNHCR) World Refugee Day event at Bangsar Village 1 yesterday.

He was one of the participants in an art competition organised for the refugee children, whose winning artworks would be displayed at the mall.

He won a consolation prize for his piece, which featured a painting of a bird framed by a heart.

"I want my country to be free like a bird. I want a future for my family where we can all live in peace and love each other."

UNHCR celebrated World Refugee Day yesterday to recognise and raise awareness on their plight. Among the guests were former Miss Universe Malaysia and refugee rights advocate Deborah Priya Henry.

UNHCR representative Alan Vernon hoped the event would encourage Malaysians to step forward and help in their own capacity.

The art competition this year was held in collaboration with local bag designer Gin & Jacqie.

Gin & Jacqie designed and sponsored canvas bags printed with the artwork of first prize winner, 15-year-old Mary Mang Hou Cing. The bags went on sale yesterday.

All profits from the sales will be donated to refugee education programmes in Malaysia.

The bags will be available at www.ginjacqie.com and Cziplee, Bangsar for RM24.

Mary, from Myanmar, painted a picture in memory of her mentally-ill mother who died a few years ago.

Mary said while her mother struggled with fleeing the violence of her own country and battling her unstable mental condition, she never failed to ensure Mary felt loved, even in the most difficult times.

Mary received the first prize for her art piece titled "Love" and will have her art printed on the canvas bag to be sold under a fundraising initiative called "Art With Heart: A Refugee Art Project".

She has been living in Malaysia for three years and aspires to be a fashion designer.

As of April, there are 98,100 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia.

Out of these are 20,000 children below the age of 18 who do not have access to formal education and a nurturing environment.

 

Source : http://www.mmail.com.my

MALAYSIA : EMPOWER REFUGEES

From The Editor’s Desk

Who are refugees?

“A refugee is a person who, owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.”

~ 1951 Convention Relating to the
Status of Refugees, Article 1(a) (2)
Dear readers,

We are the Social Protection Fund team of the UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur and welcome to our inaugural newsletter. Wait, don’t go away. We are just about to tell you that this newsletter, unlike any other is not selling you anything, only seeking your compassion.

In Malaysia, there are some 96,000 refugee men, women and children who struggle every day to rebuild their lives safely and in dignity. They are mostly Mothers with courage!

Being a refugee and single mother in a foreign land with different language and culture can be a nightmare. UNHCR works with many refugee single mothers from Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Somali and Afghanistan living in Malaysia. Most of them live in poverty and it’s extremely difficult to get a decent paid job.

At times they have very young children and it hinders them from any employment. Sometimes, the older children have to sacrifice their education and care for the younger from Myanmar, but there are also refugees from other countries like Sri Lanka, Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

They need your help. Refugees work hard every day to support themselves and each other in so many different ways – education, livelihoods, healthcare,
community development and many other areas. What they need is our understanding and support so that they are better able to help themselves.

You can help them to help themselves. Be the one to empower refugees.

siblings while their mother at work.

Some mothers face eviction when they can’t afford to pay their room rent. These mothers often ignore their health until it becomes intolerable!

Throughout the month of March 2012, SPF team met with many such MOMS of various age – despite all these challenges none of them sounded as though they have given up on life!

Instead some of them decided to start Day Care Centers to help other
mothers.

Refugee Community Clean-up activity @ ‘gotong-royong’ in Setapak & Imbi, KL
Peaceful Co-Existence

A smile from a neighbor would make our day, not a grim face or a blank stare!!

Being a refugee, that smile is hard to earn. We found a way….

In October 2011, SPF (UNHCR) team launched a community clean-up competition. Refugee groups from 23 locations in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor took part. The result was gratifying. Smiles from neighbors, policemen, and people on the street. This revealed to us the importance of the co-existence activities for a more harmonious environment.

We took a step forward. Since the year started, we approached:

Refugee communities - to organize such competitions to sustain the good values.

o State assemblymen’s offices in Kota Damansara and Kajang in Selangor,
and Prai in Penang for joint venture projects among refugees and local people – it looks promising.

o Non-profit institutions like VTOC and Soroptimist International for integration projects – they are keen.

o We believe the peaceful co- existence program would enhance the local community’s acceptance of the refugees in Malaysia.

Special Message

In a very real way, the SPF programme places
the decision-making control in the hands of
refugees in determining what works best for
their own communities and what works best in
implementing these ideas. Concrete benefits of
the SPF programme

Capacity building - it enhances skills and
education of the refugee community
regardless of their age, gender and
ethnic. Their quality of life improves.

o Enhance community mobilization and unity through
projects such as community centers, recreational and
support programs.

 

o Peaceful co-existence among the refugee communities and with local communities via various joint activities.

o Be the one to empower refugees….
 

1. Full financial sponsorship of a project 

2. Partial financial sponsorship of a project

3. In kind support for a project

Social Protection Fund, UNHCR

Known as SPF, we started in July 2009. Our aim is to
assist and promote self help and independence among the refugee communities in Malaysia. As of Feb 2012, we have provided grants to 242 community projects that are located in Penang, Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Terengganu, Pahang, Negri Sembilan and Johor.

The projects range from income generating projects, skills training (computer, tailoring and handicraft) and community services and development (shelter, youth club and peaceful co-existence). These projects benefit about 35,000 people.

We seek your support to directly sponsor some of the existing projects or new projects either financially or in kind. 

For more information, contact us at:

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Tel: 03-2141 1322 (ext 209 @ 210)
Website: www.unhcr.org.my or
http://spfunhcr.wordpress.com or
www.facebook.com/unhcr.spf