Malaysia has announced that it will send nearly 1,500 people from Myanmar back to their home country. This plan is set to start on September 29.

The government calls this a voluntary program, which means they are saying people are choosing to go back. However, many of these people are Rohingya refugees. The Rohingya are a group of people who have faced terrible violence and persecution in Myanmar. Because of this, many human rights groups and the refugees themselves are very worried.

Some of the refugees have spoken out, saying they are terrified to return. One person told reporters that it would be "better to kill us" than to force them back to a place where they feel their lives are at risk.

Many refugees in Malaysia say they feel like they are not wanted anywhere. They are dealing with a wave of hostility, meaning many local people are treating them badly or acting in ways that make them feel unwelcome.

International groups and news outlets like Al Jazeera, The New York Times, and the BBC have reported on the deep fear felt by the community. They are highlighting the danger these people could face once they are back in Myanmar.

The program is happening in stages. This first group of 1,476 people will be the first to leave. We will continue to follow this story as the date for the departures gets closer.

Source: Al Jazeera