ODI Global
Rohingya refugees in Malaysia - A Malaysian flag in a Rohingya refugee home in Kuala Lumpur
As of April 2015 there were nearly 150,000 Myanmar refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia registered with UNHCR. Most live in urban cities like Kuala Lumpur, amongst Malaysians and migrant workers.
Despite varying degrees of success in rebuilding their lives in Kuala Lumpur, many Rohingya refugees warn others in Myanmar against attempting the perilous journey to Malaysia. “If you are still stubborn and insist on coming you will die in the sea. If you don’t die in the sea you will die here. You cannot live and work well here,” cautions Mohammed.
Though many refugees are grateful to be living in Malaysia, some can see no future there and hope for resettlement in another country, while others dream of a day when Myanmar is peaceful, democratic and accepting of them so they can return home.
Photo © The Spacemen
Full photo story on New Internationalist
More info about the Humanitarian Policy Group: www.odi.org/hpg
Rohingya refugees in Malaysia - A Malaysian flag in a Rohingya refugee home in Kuala Lumpur
As of April 2015 there were nearly 150,000 Myanmar refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia registered with UNHCR. Most live in urban cities like Kuala Lumpur, amongst Malaysians and migrant workers.
Despite varying degrees of success in rebuilding their lives in Kuala Lumpur, many Rohingya refugees warn others in Myanmar against attempting the perilous journey to Malaysia. “If you are still stubborn and insist on coming you will die in the sea. If you don’t die in the sea you will die here. You cannot live and work well here,” cautions Mohammed.
Though many refugees are grateful to be living in Malaysia, some can see no future there and hope for resettlement in another country, while others dream of a day when Myanmar is peaceful, democratic and accepting of them so they can return home.
Photo © The Spacemen
Full photo story on New Internationalist
More info about the Humanitarian Policy Group: www.odi.org/hpg