Kayin State ponders resettlement of IDPs, closing temporary camps

December 28, 2019

Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye attended the meeting for explaining the National Master Strategic Plan for Resettling IDPs and Closing Temporary Camps and to discuss joint implementation held at Zwekabin Hall in Hpa-an, Kayin State, yesterday.

Present at the meeting were Kayin State Chief Minister Daw Nan Khin Htwe Myint, Deputy Minister U Soe Aung, state ministers, Hluttaw representatives, directors-general, state department officials, heads of temporary shelters, and officials from CSOs, UN, INGOs and NGOs.

The Union Minister first delivered a speech where he said the government opened temporary relief camps in Kachin, Shan, Rakhine and Kayin states to assist internally displaced persons within Myanmar. He said as the camps are designed to be temporary, living in them for an extended period can cause social issues.

He said this is why if rehabilitation processes are successful then the temporary camps can be quickly closed down. He said Kayin State is a good example of implementing ceasefire and peace process and has increased development activities and more results from achieving peace.

The Union Minister said Kayin State still has a lot of work left to assist IDPs and the government provides assistance to areas in order of urgency. He said Kayin State is on the priority list of his ministry and receives social pensions for its elderly citizens and monetary assistance for pregnant mothers and children under two years old.

Next, Director-General Dr Ko Ko Naing of the Disaster Management Department explained the conception of the strategic plan and future processes.

Deputy Minister U Soe Aung then explained the experiences of current resettlement plans and closing down temporary camps. This was followed by attendees raising various questions and the directors-general answering to them.—MNA (Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)