A 2nd High Level meeting on ASEAN cooperation in the work process of repatriating displaced persons from Rakhine State was held at Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement assembly hall yesterday morning.
The meeting was jointly chaired by Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr. Win Myat Aye and ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi.
At the meeting Union Minister Dr. Win Myat Aye spoke of his appreciation for ASEAN’s decision at the 33rd ASEAN Summit meeting held in Singapore on November 2018 to cooperate and participate in the work process of repatriating displaced persons from Rakhine State. As per the decision an ASEAN delegation led by ASEAN Secretary General conducted a field visit to Rakhine in December 2018. From 4 to 13 March 2019, ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) conducted an initial survey for repatriation of displaced persons from Rakhine State by visiting Nga Khu Ya Reception Center and Hla Phoe Khaung Transit Centre and prepared a report on it. These were the efforts of ASEAN said the Union Minister.
The ASEAN-ERAT report described the actual situation on the ground in Rakhine State and the government’s systematic program set and readiness to conduct the repatriation work. The report was planned to be submitted to ASEAN Summit on June 2019. Socio-economic development works in Rakhine State were being implemented by Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development in Rakhine (UEHRD) and the day’s 2nd High Level meeting will discuss future cooperation works said, the Union Minister.
Next, ASEAN Secretary General spoke about lots of works being conducted by ASEAN in 2018 on Rakhine State affairs. Initial survey report’s recommendations will be jointly implemented and a more complete assessment will be made when the repatriation begins. In implementing the initial survey report findings, raising the capacity of the government servants will also be conducted. ASEAN will cooperate more in the ongoing Rakhine State stability and long term development works said the ASEAN Secretary General.
Afterwards, ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management – AHA Centre explained about the initial survey findings report.
Later, Union Minister for International Cooperation U Kyaw Tin spoke of the usefulness of the report as well as cooperating with ASEAN in implementing the recommendations and the work process of the report. The report was beneficial not only for Myanmar but also for those who were being repatriated to Myanmar. This is a good example of cooperating with ASEAN and the report will be distributed to ASEAN Foreign Ministers and development partner organizations, said Union Minister U Kyaw Tin.
UEHRD Committee’s U Nyi Nyein Aye then explained about works implemented by UEHRD Committee and ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management – AHA Centre Executive Director Ms. Adelina explained about future work processes. This was followed by meeting attendees raised questions, provided suggestions and conducted discussions. At the meeting implementation program to implement findings and recommendations of ASEAN-ERAT group, arrangements made to conduct complete assessment and implementation plan on human resources development program toward disaster response were discussed. — MNA (Translated by Zaw Min)
