Agility partners with UNHCR to alleviate refugee crisis in Malaysia

January 24, 2020: Agility and UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) have partnered to deliver essential services to refugees in Malaysia, especially the vulnerable communities located outside the country’s capital.

The partnership, which was announced during the annual meeting at the World Economic Forum, held in Davos, involves a $100,000 donation from Agility. UNHCR will be establishing pilot programs in Johor and Penang, bringing needed services such as refugee card renewal, opening protection related information and counseling on available services to more than 12,000 refugees. While there are 178,000 refugees currently registered with UNHCR in the country, Agility’s donation will enable UNHCR to further extend its support to more than 12,000 refugees. Myanmar’s Rohingya refugees being the majority.

With the help of local engagement, the partnership intends on eliminating the need for refugees to travel to Kuala Lumpur, which can be 300+ kilometers away from their homes, to get access to vital services like refugee card renewal.

Agility CEO Tarek Sultan said: “UNHCR’s services are critical to giving refugees and families a safe place in times of turmoil. These services will help support a stronger sense of community for refugees who have been forced to flee their homes and villages. Agility has long supported UNHCR in the Middle East. We see a need to expand our partnership to help meet the needs of refugees in Malaysia.”

H.R.H. Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, senior advisor for private sector partnerships, UNHCR said, “Agility’s contribution is an important demonstration of solidarity from the Kuwait private sector and one that will improve the safety and well-being of thousands of refugees in Malaysia, a country that has a long history of hosting displaced populations. The global size and scale of displacement requires us to go beyond the business as usual approach and I am confident that Agility’s gesture will inspire the private sector to upscale its support to refugees.”

Agility has a reputation of providing supply chain expertise and resources in collaboration with commercial partners to communities affected by natural disasters and other crisis. In the past, Agility has assisted more than 490 Syrian refugee families with UNHCR’s support through fundraising and donations.