Gov’t officials discuss resettling IDPs, camp closures

February 21, 2020

The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement held a coordination meeting to draft a guideline for developing action plans to close IDP camps in line with the National Strategy on Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Attending the meeting were Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye, Deputy Minister U Soe Aung, representatives from relevant ministries, state/regional governments and UEHRD, and Prof Walter Kaelin, International Consultant from Switzerland.

The Union Minister first gave a speech, where he said the IDP camps were set up in response to conflicts in Myanmar and there are 128 camps in Kachin, Kayin, Shan and Rakhine states. He said the camps are temporary and it is the government’s duty to resettle the camp inhabitants. He said this is why the national strategy for that purpose was published in November 2019 and the contents explained to states with IDP camps. The Union Minister said there should be action plans and guidelines to assist in selection of priority IDP camps for resettlement and to address the educational, healthcare and employment needs of the people living there.

Next, Prof Walter Kaelin, who was involved in the creation of the national strategy, talked about the visit to IDP camps in Shan State to assess the implementation phase. The Deputy Minister also explained various processes. Afterwards, the Kayin State Minister for Social Affairs and government representatives from Rakhine, Shan and Kachin states explained the action plans for resettling IDPs in their regions and ministry and UEHRD officials provided suggestions and asked questions.—MNA (Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)