PETALING JAYA: The ethnic Myanmar Chins who have had to return their UNHCR cards are asylum seekers, not refugees, according to a statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia.
UNHCR issued the statement in response to R.AGE’s “Refugees No More” multimedia documentary, which highlighted a reported increase in mental health issues including depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation among the Chin community since UNHCR announced its policy to end refugee protection for Chins by end 2019.