Daily Times

The World Refugees Day is observed across the globe on June 20. The observance is an acknowledgement of the suffering of those who have fled their homes due to fear of life and limb, who have entered new lands in the hope of shelter until their miseries are over back home.

Malaysia and Thailand are hosts to thousands of refugees from various countries including Pakistan. These refugees are registered with the United Nations High Commission on Refugees. Many Pakistanis have acquired the status of a registered refugee with the UNHCR with stories of victimisation, religious persecution, terrorism, and unlawful detention by law enforcement agencies. Many of them have acquired refugee status by pretending to be Afghans, while still using Pakistani travel documents. Some of them wish to go to the USA, the UK, Canada, and Australia for a better future. Their aim is to settle in one of these countries.

There are also Pakistanis facing real threats to their lives. Their cases are worth consideration. It is very risky for them to return to Pakistan. The UNHCR offices in Malaysia and Thailand have a very strict system. They waste no time in rejecting cases based on false claims.

Yet there are people who have managed to find a way. The immigration detention centre in Bangkok, Thailand, is host to many Ahmadis and Christians, who have been kept there for up to four years as their resettlement is in process.

Some of the ‘refugees’ were never threatened in Pakistan but have concocted stories of false persecution. Many have resettled in the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Europe through the UNHCR. There are also people with valid reasons still hanging between hope and despair. Some of the people who cannot return to Pakistan without seriously risking their lives are still waiting for their applications to be processed.

The UNHCR’s office in Malaysia works very hard in order to provide every facility to refugees, including healthcare, education, opening a bank account, and getting a job

People from Myanmar, Afghanistan, Africa, Iran, and the Gulf countries are also looking for a better future.

Many get the permission to resettle. Others wait for their entire life for the permission. Others still are forced to go back to their motherlands.

If the UNHCR and the aforementioned countries inquire from their respective home countries about their status, whether they really are in trouble or not, it will solve many problems. Rights of those who are truly in need of help should be protected. The United Staets and a few other countries no longer people from Muslim countries to migrate. The UNCHR should take some action in this regard.

The UNHCR office in Malaysia works very hard in order to provide every facility to refugees, including healthcare, education, opening a bank account, and getting a job. A great deal of credit for goes to the UNHCR’s representative, Thomas Albrecht, and deputy representative, Maja Lazic. The hard work they put in day and night is helping the refugees.

The UNHCR setup in Malaysia consists of 11 officers, out of which only the head is a male. The rest are non-local females; the other staff consists of Malaysian citizens who are doing great work. The number of women working for the UNHCR reflects the United NAtions positive attitude towards women empowerment.

The refugees complain about telephone lines being busy most of the time. It is because there are almost 170,000 refugees in Malaysia registered with the UNHCR. That makes it important for the office to install more telephones.

Most local and foreign employees of the aforementioned office are very cooperative towards refugees. It is hoped that they remain the same in the future as well.

The writer is a Pakistani journalist currently based in Malaysia