VOCR
March 09, 2009
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

It was known that since March 3, 2009 Chin refugees Kolam Air, Jalan Ipoh area, Kuala Lumpur have been facing tragedies of flood. Estimated numbers of 300 refugees most are Chins from Burma have been staying in the area. It has been reported that some of the refugee families out of the victims have lost their belonging such as food and clothes and some had moved temporarily to another area in Kuala Lumpur.



Photo of flooded area taken at 6:10pm on March 03, 2009

A victim who is from Hriphi village, Thantlang Township, Chin State and witnessed the incident
said, “The rain poured down heavily since around 4:00pm in the evening and did not stop for an hour. After the rain stopped irrigation besides our residence that is about 80sqre feet wide was flooded unexpectedly.”

The victims reported that some of their belonging such as their bed, TV, friedge etc…were swept by the water. A few victims were reported injuring cuts with pieces of broken glasses. Jalan Ipoh is located about 10 minutes drive from Kuala Lumpur. Among the victims, estimated number of 20 families are Chin ethnic people from Burma including 80 women and some young babies and children.



Photo: high level of flood

Chinland Guardian news reported, “Members of a Christian Church called SIBKL were said to have provided the Chin victims with food and allowed about 15 people to sleep in the church building. The Chin leaders and pastors in Malaysia visited and encouraged the flood victims with prayers and services.”

It was also known that most of the victims are still waiting for their time to get registered as asylumseekers by UNHCR office in Malaysia even though some of them were already approved by UNHCR office as refugees.

UNHCR office in Malaysia had some specific strategies and policies of registering refugees in Malaysia. Only vulnerable asylum-seekers and pregnant women verified by authorized clinics and government hospital, other applicants referred by UNHCR offices from another countries and a very few persons such as community leaders and so on have been registered at UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur. UNHCR had registered thousands of asylum-seekers within last year by using registration system called “Mobile Registration” but stopped it since first week of December 2008 till today.

Many asylum-seekers in Malaysia including the victims of the flood have been waiting patiently for their time to get registered.