Workshop on success of UEHRD projects and voluntary repatriation to original locations held

 October 31, 2017

Dr. Win Myat Aye, Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, gave an opening address at the Workshop on voluntary repatriation to their original locations for those who had been residing in north Rakhine, which is one of the objectives of the Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development in Rakhine(UEHRD), co-sponsored by the Ministry and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) held at the Sofitel Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning, with a view to helping in carrying out the tasks of accepting Muslim resident in Rakhine who fled to Bangladesh after the terrorist attacks of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on 25 August.

“The State Government is performing the tasks of national affairs and national peace, national reconciliation, emergence of a management system which governs in accordance with rules and laws and development of the whole populace in free and secure ways. In Rakhine State affairs as well, performances of the ministries as well as all-inclusive Union Project are being implemented. In our country there are both emigrants and immigrants for various reasons. Those who had been in Thailand and India on various reasons were accepted under a bilateral co-operation programme. Likewise, those who returned from Bangladesh were accepted under the 1993 Myanmar-Bangladesh Agreement. In the process of calling them back, UNHCR is an organisation which took part in helping. Provided that anyone who had been in foreign countries on various reasons would like to come back home of their own accord, they must be accepted”, the Union Minister said.

“Simultaneously, some returned home out of a desire to take part in national development projects. Accordingly, an acceptance process must be carried out in accord with international rules and laws, frameworks and standards and fundamental principles and regulations. Moreover, it needs to comply with rules and laws of the country. The present workshop is a part of all-inclusive concerted effort on the nationwide scale, hoping for potential good results for the success of UEHRD Project the State is implementing”, the Union Minister added.

In addition, Mr. Indrika Ratwatte of UNHCR and Joseph DeVincentis, Regional Representative, clarified the processes which are being co-operated with Myanmar.

Present at the meeting were Union Minister U Thein Swe, Deputy Minister U Soe Aung, Major General Than Htut, Dr Aung Tun Thet, Chief Co-ordinator of UEHRD Project and responsible officials, it was learnt.

Myanmar News Agency

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar