Everyday Struggle in Malaysia

February 07, 2018 | Pulitzer Center

Ifath Sayed and Jueun Choi

A Rohingya mother and child wait to receive free health check-ups organized by Human Aid. Image by Jueun Choi. Malaysia, 2017.

A Somalian refugee child studies from the book he received at his NGO school. Image by Jueun Choi. Malaysia, 2017.

A Rohingya refugee child plays with a comb in his house. Image by Jueun Choi. Malaysia, 2017.

Five Rohingya children have their afternoon lunch on a large plate at Human Aid. Image by Jueun Choi. Malaysia, 2017.

A volunteer teacher at Chin Student Organization teaches English to Chin children from her community. Image by Ifath Sayed. Malaysia, 2017.

Iraqi middle school children enjoy meeting their friends in their community school, but want to attend international schools for better learning opportunities. Image by Ifath Sayed. Malaysia, 2017.

Artwork done by volunteers on the wall of Human Aid, an NGO that provides schooling to children from Myanmar. Image by Jueun Choi. Malaysia, 2017.

Most refugees rely on their ethnic community centers for healthcare. Image by Ifath Sayed. Malaysia, 2017.

Rohingya refugee girls play in their school. Image by Jueun Choi. Malaysia, 2017.

Children remove their shoes before they enter their class in a Chin refugee school. Image by Ifath Sayed. Malaysia, 2017.

A Rohingya child tries to learn spelling in class. Image by Jueun Choi. Malaysia, 2017.

Malaysia has dictated severe rules for the refugees living in the country: they cannot work, access healthcare, or enroll themselves in institutional schools.

According to the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHCR) in Malaysia, there are a total of 37,000 refugee children in the country. These children usually have access to schooling only through NGOs.

Inadequate living conditions, lack of money, exclusion from basic provisions, and constant fear of arrests have made refugees and their children’s lives in Malaysia miserable as families wait for UNHCR to help them receive asylum in other countries.