Snapshot – Understanding information sources and gaps among Afghan, Chin and Rohingya refugees in Malaysia
This snapshot examines access to information about routes, destinations, costs, and risks among Afghan, Chin, and Rohingya refugees in Malaysia. It presents insights on the sources of information and the means used to obtain information both before and during the journey to Malaysia, information gaps and the implications these gaps have on decision-making.
Key findings
- Approximately 55% of respondents obtained information about routes, destinations, costs, and risks prior to their journey, while only 19% obtained information during their journey.
- Personal social networks were the primary sources of information before the journey, but their usage decreased during the journey.
- The role of smugglers as a source of information grew to dominate during the journey, with 68% of respondents relying on them for information compared to 31% prior to the journey. Varied perception of smugglers as a reliable source of information suggested different smuggling dynamic between groups.
- In-person interactions were the most preferred means to obtain information before (82%) and during the journey (69%).
- Only 5% of respondents reported that they had received all the necessary information, highlighting a serious lack of access to information among respondents.
The full Snapshot can be found on the website of the Mixed Migration Centre here.
