17 Dec 

Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye received the delegation led by UNHCR Resident Representative in Myanmar Ms Hai Kyung Jun at his office in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday, followed by a virtual meeting with another delegation led by the US Chargé d’Affaires’ Ms Gwendolyn J Cardno on the same day.

During his meeting with the UNHCR Resident Representative in Myanmar Ms Hai Kyung Jun, the Union Minister discussed matters related to an MoU with UNHCR to provide humanitarian assistance, implementation of resettlement and rehabilitation processes for IDPs, and cooperation between Myanmar and the UNHCR, plans for the closure of temporary IDP camps in accordance with the national-level strategy, disaster management activities, the ministry’s plan to cooperate with UNHCR on future humanitarian and development works and other relevant issues.

During his virtual meeting with the US Chargé d’Affaires’ Ms Gwendolyn J Cardno, the Union Minister discussed the implementation of the National Strategy on Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons and Closure of IDP Camps, the ministry’s assistance including financial aid for IDPs and vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis, the continuation of humanitarian work in the Rakhine State in accordance with COVID-19 related guidelines, implementation of Child Rights Law, which was approved in 2019 and other vital issues.

Myanmar ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on the involvement of Children in Armed Conflict on 27 September 2019, according to the Union Minister, who said that the President Office had formed a national-level committee to implement the protocol. The Union Minister also discussed matters related to human trafficking, Myanmar’s cooperation with neighbouring countries in social welfare and relief activities. He said that the US could cooperate in expanding the Emergency Management Centres (EOCs), which is significant for disaster prevention. 

MNA (Translated by Maung Maung Swe)