Myanmar affirms early repatriation of Rohingya refugees

Myanmar Social Welfare Minister Win Myat Aye said Rohingya refugees will return to Myanmar as early as possible although the repatriation process is stagnating and the UN warned that their safety is not ensured.
Hanoi (VNA) - MyanmarSocial Welfare Minister Win Myat Aye said Rohingya refugees will return toMyanmar as early as possible although the repatriation process is stagnating andthe UN warned that their safety is not ensured.

The minister made the statement after visiting the Kutupalong camp of RohingyaMuslims in Cox’s Bazar of Bangladesh.

Talking to the press in Dahka capital after meeting with Bangladeshi officials,Aye expressed his belief that the two sides can address impending difficultiesto start the repatriation process as early as possible.

Meanwhile, Bangladeshi Foreign Minister A.H. Mahmood Ali, head of the negotiatingdelegation of Bangladesh on this issue, affirmed that the two sides vowed toenforce the repatriation agreement reached last year.

This was the first time a cabinet member of Myanmar had visited a camp of Rohingyarefugees since the two countries began security operations following attacks bygunmen in Rakhine State in August 2017.

Violence in this area forced 700,000 Rohingyapeople to flee into Bangladesh to seek shelter. In November last year, the twocountries agreed on the time for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees and the establishmentof an expert group to supervise the process.

However, UN agencies warned that Rohingyarefugees may be in danger as current conditions in Myanmar are not yetconducive for their voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return.-VNA 
VNA

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