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No U.N. aid or support for Syrian refugees in Malaysia

Translation by Rana Abdul

(Zaman Al Wasl)- Malaysia did not sign on pacts to receive refugees, but a number of Syrians fled regime oppression to Malaysia since Syrians do not need a visa to enter it.

The number of Syrian refugees in Malaysia is estimated to be 4000. They face difficulties in legal issues to have a status as well, integrating with the society, coping with the new changes, and getting basics of life especially with United Nations refraining from offering financial assistance and refugee documents.

The most Syrians can obtain as legal document is a “book an interview” because the Malaysian laws do not permit to receive refugees and they only give temporary residence. The refugee can get one assistance during the year from one of charity organizations there.

 The assistance packet contains frying oil bottle, potatoes, sugar, tea, milk, flour, tomato sauces, chickpeas, garlic, onion and rice. This makes life difficult for them especially during Ramadan. They cook basic food or go to mosques to do Iftar since the mosque offer a meal of spiced rice soup, meat, and vegetables. This food is mostly made in Ramadan.

Mustafa Marar has been living in Kuala Lumpur for 2 years away from his family. Commenting on life in Ramadan, he said, “life of refugees in Malaysia is absent from cheerful Ramadan rites they got used to except for Tarawih prayers. He pointed out that mosques in Malaysia have special kitchens that prepare meals for the fasting. The meal is mostly rice and meat or chicken in addition to natural juice. Most of those who come for the meals are single refugees or those who do not have their family there so they resort to mosques.”

Marar added that refugees in Malaysia do not feel the spiritual and material beauties of Ramadan due to difficulties of life and lack of work especially for families.

A significant number of Arab refugees including Syrians live in isolated residential blocks away from the Malaysian neighborhoods due to difficulty of learning the language. Many Malaysian do not speak English. The different between traditions and culture also makes it difficult for refugees to interact and integrate.

The Malaysian Government has received 68 Syrian refugees including 31 children until late May out of 3000 willing to receive.

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