Government to distribute leaflets containing repatriation information

09 April 2019
Government to distribute leaflets containing repatriation information
Rohingya refugee volunteers walk along Balukhali refugee camp in Ukhia district near Cox's Bazar. Photo: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP

Union Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr. Win Myat Aye told Mizzima that his ministry would distribute information pamphlets at refugee camps in Bangladesh on repatriation.

“We are producing leaflets containing complete information of our plan for receiving them. Final draft copy of these leaflets has been completed. The UN resident representative will come to us and then we will inform refugees in Bangladesh through representatives who are cooperating with us. I assume that the situation will be improved by that time,” Union Minister Dr. Win Myat Aye said.

The minister said that all necessary information regarding the repatriation plan would be included in the pamphlets but he did not disclose details and timing of distribution.

The Union Minister said that repatriation of refugees was not the sole responsibility of Myanmar government, international cooperation in this work and voluntariness of refugees was also important.

According to government figures, the number of refugees who fled to Bangladesh is over 500,000 and the number of IDPs is over 10,000.

But according to figures released by UN, the number of refugees who fled to Bangladesh is over 700,000 and Bangladesh claimed that that number was over one million.

Regarding repatriation, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U Myint Thu, met Bangladesh ambassador to Myanmar and agreed to meet and discuss this issue on April 27.