Discussion with UNHCR: MoIP UM held discussion with UNHCR

Union Minister for Immigration and Population U Myint Kyaing, received Mr. Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees from Geneva, Switzerland, and his delegation at the Ministry in Nay Pyi Taw on September 9.

During the meeting, they held an open and friendly discussion on the issues including, the status of the Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry, UNDP, and UNHCR for the repatriation of displaced persons from Rakhine State, the coordination and collaboration between the governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh to ensure the success of the repatriation process, the reasons for the delay in the repatriation process, which is being hampered by the interference of terrorist insurgents in Rakhine State.

Mr. Grandi expressed gratitude to Myanmar for allowing UNHCR staff members working in the Buthidaung and Maungdaw regions to relocate to Sittwe and Yangon due to security concerns, the potential for UNHCR staff to return to their original duty stations once the region is stable, UNHCR’s desire to assist all displaced people from Rakhine State, not just those who have fled to Bangladesh, the ministry's commitment to continuing its partnership with UNDP and UNHCR to advance the repatriation process and the need for the UN to be informed of these efforts.