November 09, 2019
The Working Committee on Resettling Returnees held a coordination meeting at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement on 7 November.
Committee on the acceptance and resettlement of returnees Chairman and Union SWRR Minister Dr Win Myat Aye, working committee Chairman and Deputy Minister U Soe Aung, Joint-Chairman and Rakhine State Minister for Electricity, Industry and Transportation U Aung Kyaw Zan, UEHRD representatives, department officials and representatives of UN agencies attended the meeting.
Dr Win Myat Aye spoke first at the meeting. He said that while there have been people who fled their homes in Rakhine State during the ARSA attacks in 2017, there were also people who sought shelter in the closest homes of their relatives and the committee has been trying to resettle them.
He said as his ministry handles resettlement and socioeconomic development in the region, they formed the Committee for Accepting and Resettling Returnees and two relevant working committee in July 2018. He said his ministry has conducted numerous fieldwork to ensure genuine information is gathered to effectively assist the various processes.
The Union Minister said the State Counsellor mentioned the delicate yet complicated nature of the Rakhine State issue during the 10th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok. She said the UN agencies who have been located in Rakhine longer than the incumbent government should have a better understanding of the complexity of the issue.
The Union Minister they will firmly uphold the bilateral agreement between Myanmar and Bangladesh, and the trilateral agreement with UNHCR and UNDP to verify and accept and IDP returnees. He said they have already drawn a national strategic plan to resettle internally displaced persons and close down temporary IDP camps.
He said UN-Habitat has been helping with constructing residences, and authorities have been conducting work on the ground. Relocation and resettling of IDPs in nearby villages are already starting, said the Union Minister.
Next, Deputy Minister U Soe Aung said they are beginning the internal resettlement process with two villages in Maungtaw Township. He urged relevant UN agencies and other officials to discuss the housing, education, healthcare, security and other matters suitable for the region.
This was followed by State Minister U Aung Kyaw Zan explaining the local cabinet’s work in the internal resettlement process.
Afterwards, representatives from UNHCR, UNDP, and UN-Habitat discussed possible areas of cooperation, attendees provided suggestions, and the leading officials gave instructions where necessary. —MNA (Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)
