20 May
Advisor to the Chairman of UEHRD committee, U Toe Aung said to media that Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development(UEHRD) project is gaining international collaboration and ASEAN countries support the work of it.
He said this after the UEHRD committee coordination meeting for Rakhine held at National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC) on Shwe Li street, Yangon.
U Toe Aung said: “There has been international collaboration. ASEAN supports the way we are handling the problem and our work. They are going so far as establishing a University in Rakhine State to help us. As far as I know, the Secretary-General of ASEAN will come here. Which is why we are getting full ASEAN support.” It was reported that they discussed strengthening the communication between UEHRD office in Yangon and the one in Nay Pyi Taw, and speeding up the project on which United Nation Development Program and Office of the United Nation High commissioner for Refugees are working in collaboration.
“UEHRD prioritizes humanitarian assistance, resettlement, and sustainable development. Only the people who cross the border to take refuge in another country come to mind when resettlement is mentioned, but this also includes displaced people who left their home and belongings because of the current affairs. The IDPs. We need to have them resettled too. This work mainly has to do with and focus on humanitarian assistance, resettlement, long-lasting end to conflicts, and development,” said U Toe Aung.
Daw Pyone Kay Thi Naing, leader of the International Communication team of UEHRD and Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Kalaw Township, said that UEHRD has now formed an Outreach Working Group to let the public know about their work. They will also release and disseminate information to local and international news agencies.
Daw Pyone Kay Thi Naing said: “To inform local and international new agencies of our work, we will release and exchange information as necessary. Particularly informing the public of our wok in detail. It is one of our aims to let people know that UEHRD is operating in the right way.”
The Union Government, public and private organizations, local NGOs and CSOs, affiliated countries, UN agencies and INGOs are all working together for the development in Rakhine state. The UEHRD was established on 17th October 2017 with State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as its Chairperson.
To steer national-level projects, the UEHRD has formed working groups for construction and basic infrastructure, agriculture and livestock, industrial zone development, information and public relations, creating job opportunities and planning vocational training courses, health security, supporting microfinances, fundraising, developing tourism, and international relations.
UEHRD’s Chief Coordinator, Dr. Aung Tun Thet, said: ”There are two parts in UEHRD, namely committee which is government led and does national level project. To steer these there are 10 private sector task forces. We deal with business people a lot for the development. We try to get international investment. State Counsellor herself came to support the investment event in Rakhine state, held not long ago. We sign MoUs. Now there are plans to establish factories in Sittway. There are varieties of plan for MraukU too. This is development. In resettlement, there has been two welcoming camps and one resettlement camp since UEHRD was established. They are all ready. They just have to come back. There are matters we are taking with Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement”. UEHRD Committee Vice Chairman 1 Dr. Win Myat Aye, who is also Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief, and Resettlement, committee members and members of outreach working Group attended the event. —Ye Kaung Nyunt (Translated by Alphonsus)
