Union ministers, advisors witness repatriation readiness

 January 24, 2018

A delegation comprised of Union ministers and members of the Advisory Board for the Committee for Implementation of the Recommendations on Rakhine State visited repatriation camps in Rakhine State yesterday.

Together with journalists from independent media organisations, the delegation toured the camps in Hla Phoe Khaung, Nga Khu Ya and Taung Pyo Letwe.

The delegation consisted of Union Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor U Kyaw Tint Swe, Union Minister for the Office of the Union Government U Thaung Tun, Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr. Win Myat Aye, and members of the Advisory Board. The independent media group included journalists from TV Asahi, Nikkei, Kyodo, Asahi Shimbun, Fuji TV, NHK, Nippon TV, Yunan TV, Xinhua and ZVE TV.

The delegation was met at Sittway Airport by Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu.

The group led by U Thaung Tun travelled to Hla Phoe Khaung camp in Maungtaw Township, a temporary home of IDPs. Maungtaw District Deputy Commissioner U Ye Htut explained future plans for the camp and said there will be additional housing and roads built. He also explained future plans for food, water, electricity and healthcare for the camp.

The group toured the camp and the Union Minister talked with several Islamic villagers from nearby villages and asked them about their current state of affairs.

Hla Phoe Khaung camp sits on a 124.84 acre plot and contains 640 housing units for over 30,000 people. There are also over 500 reserve tents in case of emergencies.

The group then travelled to Kanyin Chaung Economic Zone, where they were briefed by the Chairman of the Association for Border Trade and Merchants U Aung Myint Than on the history and current status of the economic zone. Afterwards, the Union Minister and entourage met with local residents and visited the economic zone.

The group then travelled to Nga Khu Ya, a temporary centre for repatriation. There, they inspected the inspection process for repatriation and the process for issuing NVC cards. The group also inspected the sites for construction of temporary clinics, buildings for the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department for Health, the Department for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, the Department for Labour and Immigration, and other offices of the Rakhine State Government.

Later, the Union Minister and entourage travelled to Kyaukpyu from Sittway by air. There, they visited the Onshore Gas Terminal from Posco Daewoo, where officials explained the nature of the work and the ongoing processes.

In the evening, the Union Ministers and entourage travelled to Thandwe.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar