14 March

ASEAN-Emergency Response and Assessment Team-ASEAN ERAT delegation conducted a field visit to reception centres in Maungtaw from 8 to 10 March, conducting an initial survey for repatriation of displaced people from Rakhine State.

The delegation comprised of 10 members from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

During the visit, the delegation members practiced the process for accepting the returnees, including meeting with authorities and officials of the reception camps, security and administration at the camps, preparation for education, health, water and sanitation supply, food supply and accommodation, issuing the National Verification cards to returnees, humanitarian aid supply, arrangements for social harmony and diplomacy matters.

They also held talks with Maungtaw district and township level officials over repatriation readiness.

The ASEAN ERAT team also visited the villages where the returnees would be resettled and observed the houses built with the assistance of UEHRD and donor countries.

On 11 March, the team met with Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu in Sittway and discussed their findings during the visit.

The ASEAN-ERAT team called on Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr. Win Myat Aye in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday and discussed their findings during their field visit to Maungtaw.

The team will report the areas for cooperation in Myanmar to relevant ASEAN members and will keep on cooperation in Myanmar.

ASEAN Secretariat Office, ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance-AHA and Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement are working together for repatriation of displaced people from Rakhine State.

The ASEAN-ERAT conducted a training in Nay Pyi Taw for safety of the members of the team and called on Union Minister Dr. Win Myat Aye on 6 March.

At the meeting, the Union Minister briefed about bilateral cooperation between Myanmar and Bangladesh for repatriation of displaced people from Rakhine State, implementation of UEHRD projects, arrangements for settlement of returnees with safety and human dignity, information sector and cooperation with related ministries and UN agencies.

—MNA
(Translated by TTN)