Highlights 1-29 February 2016
Bangladesh: During February, IOM provided return assistance, including food and onward transportation, to 134 Bangladeshis including 4 minors returning from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. To date, IOM has provided return assistance to 2,567 Bangladeshis.
Indonesia: As of 29 February, there are a total of 308 migrants (10 Bangla-deshis and 298 Myanmar Muslims from Rakhine State) throughout five shelters in Aceh and North Sumatera. 16 Bangladeshis returned under IOM’s Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) Programme in February. Under the programme, IOM has assisted 759 migrants (707 male adults and 52 male unaccompanied minors) with return to their home country.
Thailand: To date, 397 Myanmar Muslim men, women and children from Rakhine State and 109 Bangladesh men remain in Thailand. Out of 506, 14 % are women and 52% are men, whilst 34 % are boys and girls under 18 years old; 70 women and 171 children under 18 are being detained in Immigration Detention Centers (IDCs) and shelters. In February, 83 Bangladeshis returned under IOM’s AVR Programme.
Situation Overview
At least 5,543 persons who departed from Myanmar and Bangladesh managed to disembark in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand, between 10 May and 30 July 2015. Embarkation recommenced on 20 September and at least 1,500 persons departed from Myanmar and Bangladesh from September to December 2015.
1,270 stranded Myanmar Muslims from Rakhine State and Bangladeshis remain in shelters and Immigration Detention Centres in Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. IOM continues to provide shelter support, non-food items, health screenings, WASH support and psychosocial support. 2,567 Bangladeshis who disembarked after 10 May in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand returned to Bangladesh under IOM’s AVR Programme and Government agreements.