Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kuala Lumpur (Fides Service) - Thousands of refugees, mainly members of ethnic minority groups fleeing persecution in Myanmar and people fleeing secessionist war in Aceh the Indonesian province of north Sumatra, are living on the outskirts of the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
Today 13 December the United Nations High Commission for Refugees has said it has started registering the refugees to provide hundreds of refugees and other categories in its care with identity papers before the Malaysian government starts announced operations to clamp down on irregular immigration. UNHCR has already registered refugees from the martyred Indonesian province of Aceh, temporarily on the Malaysian island of Penang, and is now organising its work in other regions of the country.
About 10,000 of the 28,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia, are Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar. At the beginning of November the Malaysian government said it would give temporary residence permits to Rohingya people facilitating access to medical care and education. However criticism on the issue from various government sources is causing concern among the Rohingya people.
In the meantime refugees in Kuala Lumpur are being assisted by aid agencies including Catholic organisations in collaboration with local Caritas offices.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 13/12/2004 righe 26 parole 256)
