30 January

Union Minister for Labour, Immigration and Population U Thein Swe received a UN delegation led by Mrs Christine Schraner Burgener, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, at his office in Nay Pyi Taw on 28 January.

During the meeting, they discussed matters related to the works by UNDP/UNHCR representatives and Technical Working Group (TWG) to accept returnees in Rakhine State, and completion of 12th TWG Meeting and progress of works.

The meeting also discussed current works by UNDP/UNHCR representatives in cooperation with authorities after meeting with local people during their field visits to 45 villages in Buthidaung and Maungtaw.

The ministry side also discussed the means for contacting the ministry’s officials to get information on repatriation processes and raising awareness activities about advantages of holding the National Verification Card.

The Union Minister also detailed about the NV cards including improvement of data quality mentioned on the card and issuing the card nationwide including Rakhine State, and issuing citizenship verification cards. He also explained plans for issuing proper cards to those who do not hold any card.

The Union Minister also discussed taking a census at IDP camps in Sittway by the ministry’s mobile teams in cooperation with local public health authorities as part of efforts for issuing NV cards. The two sides also exchanged views on sharing and explaining the implementation processes of the ministry to NGOs, INGOs, CSOs and local people, the UN representatives’ assistance on sharing programme, the government’s understanding and recognition on the peace and development in Rakhine State, and ongoing aids from the UN representatives.— MNA (Translated by Kyaw Zin Tun)