Malaysia has finalised the first phase of a voluntary repatriation programme for Myanmar nationals, with 1,476 people scheduled to return to Myanmar on September 29. The Malaysian government announced the plan on Thursday, saying Myanmar authorities had confirmed the identities of those set to be repatriated. The operation will use two Myanmar naval vessels and one hospital ship.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had previously said Myanmar agreed to take back 5,000 ethnic Rohingya refugees amid rising tensions with local communities in Malaysia. The Home Ministry said about 4,008 people, most of them ethnic Rohingya, would be included this year under the Refugee Registration Document, or DPP, programme.

Under an understanding with Myanmar’s government, a further 5,000 people will be considered for voluntary repatriation, the ministry said. As of August 15, Malaysian immigration detention centres held 10,388 Myanmar nationals, though not all could be regarded as refugees. Immigration authorities and police are verifying detainees’ identities, nationalities and security information, with the process expected to finish by the fourth quarter.