The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement organized a virtual meeting yesterday morning over the resettlement of IDPs in Kyauktalone IDP camp in Kyaukpyu Township in the Rakhine State and closure of the camp.

Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye, Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu, Deputy Minister U Soe Aung, regional ministers, the Permanent Secretary, Directors-General, government officials and IDP camp officials participated in the virtual meeting.

During the meeting, Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye said that the Union government is constantly striving for peace, stability and development in the Rakhine State. He continued that the Union Government and the regional government are cooperating with local civil society organizations and the general public in accordance with policies, laws and strategies in order to achieve sustainable development in the area.

The National-level Strategy on Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons and Closure of IDP Camps is a strategy for the entire country, according to the Union Minister, who said that the government is also cooperating with international experts for planning and implementation of the strategy.

Until now, a total of 4,686 IDPs from five camps — Ka Nyin Taw, Kyauk Ni Maw (Kaman), Ni Din, Min Tha Hpa and Taung Paw — in five townships in the Rakhine State have been resettled, and the camps have been closed.

The necessary plan has also been drawn up for the closure of the Kyauktalone IDP camp in Kyaukpyu Township. In January 2020, the Rakhine State organized a regional level committee in line with the National-level Strategy on Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons and Closure of IDP Camps.

Speaking on providing support for IDPs during the COVID-19 crisis, the Union Minister said that since the COVID-19 pandemic has broken out, high priority was also given to IDPs in providing various assistance. He added that under the Maternal and Child Cash Transfer (MCCT) programme, additional support was provided to pregnant mothers and the children under two years of age in IDP camps. Similarly, under the COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP), the Disaster Management Department provided K40,000 per household in IDP camps.

Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu said that it is required to give high priority to the wishes of the IDPs in working for closure of IDP Camps in the Rakhine State. He added that the resettlement and closure plans also need to be accepted by the local community, so several discussions have been organized.

Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye said in his closing speech that regional development, the rule of law, and security must also be given high priority in implementing the resettlement processes. He added that he looks forward to the successful resettlement of the IDPs and closure of the Kyauktalone IDP camp in line with the national-level strategy, through systematic and sustainable cooperation.

MNA

(Translated by Maung Maung Swe)

Photo : MNA

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