# Malaysia to return 1,500 Rohingya refugees next month despite safety fears

https://mins.news/en/item/35064

- Al Jazeera, 2026-08-28 01:15 UTC
- World
- Original: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/28/malaysia-to-return-1500-rohingya-refugees-next-month-despite-safety-fears?traffic_source=rss

> Malaysia says the first phase of its repatriation programme will send at least 1,500 eligible Myanmar refugees home on September 29, using two naval vessels and a hospital ship. The government says it will halt returns if people face persecution or threats to their lives, while Human Rights Watch says conditions for a safe, dignified and voluntary return do not exist.

## Related coverage

- [Can the Rohingya ever go home?](https://mins.news/en/video/37836) — Al Jazeera English, 2026-08-30
- [Malaysia says first Myanmar repatriations will start on Sept. 29](https://mins.news/en/item/34405) — Reuters, 2026-08-27