Among Chin refugees settled illegally in Camaron Highland (CHL), about 30 miles from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 900 have got registration and 700 the UNHCR card.

A Malaysian Chin refugee committee member, Salai San said that the committee had taken necessary action for Chin refugees staying in CHL.

First of all the committee reported their condition to Malaysian NGO, ACTS after which they received medical treatment. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offered the refugee status cards soon after that.

Two members from Director of Kompulan Acts visited the Chin refugee camp at CHL on August 21.They provided medical treatment and admitted one patient to the hospital in Tanarah. From then onwards the Malaysian UNHCR recognized them as refugees and gave the registrations.

“Their condition is very bad, that’s why we reported it to ACTS and UNHCR” said Salai San.

It is learnt that, the members of CRC also known as Chin Refugee Committee, visited those staying as refugees at CHL on August 11 to study their condition and reported it to the UNHCR.

According to the report of the CRC, they received medical treatment and registration from ACTS and UNHCR.

However, Malaysia UNHCR has not yet recognized about 400 to 500 Chin refugees. Salai San said that UNHCR will observe the condition of Chin refugees and process cards and take other necessary action.

This is the first time that registration has been given to a group of refugees by UNHCR after the Malaysian Government arrested foreigners in 2005.

In Malaysia, now there are over 15,000 Chin people as refugees since 1988.