U Chan Aye, Director General of the International Organizations and Economic Department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar received Ms. Cecile Fradot, Deputy Representative of UNHCR in Myanmar at 1400 hrs. on 19 August 2019 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw. During the meeting, the Director-General explained the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the UNHCR's request to access the resettlement sites of 3,450 verified displaced persons who will be expected to repatriate to Myanmar on 22 August 2019 in accordance with the bilateral agreements between Myanmar and Bangladesh; and areas of cooperation between Myanmar and UNHCR.
The Director-General informed the UNHCR's Deputy Representative that the repatriation of 3,450 verified displaced persons will be conducted in accordance with the bilateral agreements between Myanmar and Bangladesh and the MoU. signed between Myanmar and UNDPJUNHCR. The UNHCR could propose related assistance to provide for the resettlement of the returnees on their return to Myanmar Myanmar will also inform the UNHCR should it have any need for assistance in its efforts to resettlement. The Government of Myanmar has provided relevant information of the resettlement and sites to the Bangladesh Government, in accordance with the bilateral agreements. If Bangladesh needs any further information, Myanmar stands ready to cooperate with Bangladesh constructively. Recently, à delegation of Myanmar led by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the members of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) emergency response team, visited displaced persons? camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar to explain the way forward for their repatriation. The Director-General also reiterated that Myanmar would continue to cooperate with UNHCR in accordance with the MoU signed between Myanmar and the UNDP/UNHCR and the UNHCR can render its assistance for the returnees at the Hla Phoe Khaung transit center in Maungdaw Township, the Rakhine State and at subsequent resettlement sites.
According to the bilateral agreement between Myanmar and Bangladesh, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Government of: Myanmar and UNDP/UNHCR on 6 June 2018 to provide the Government of Myanmar with the necessary assistance in repatriation process in consultation with the Government: The MoU was extended for the next 12 months with exchange of letters between the Government, the UNDP and the UNHCR on 28 May 2019.
In line with the provisions of the MOU, the Government of Myanmar has allowed UNDP and UNHCR to conduct independent field assessments in over 80 villages as of 13 July 2019 and to implement 34 Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) as of 5 September 2019 in order to benefit all communities and the potential returnees. It is learnt that the Government will grant UNDP and UNHCR necessary authorization for the remaining QIPs and assessments as and when security situation of Rakhine - State allows.
