YANGON, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's Labour, Immigration and Population Ministry, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to assist Myanmar government's repatriation process of displaced persons from Rakhine state.
Under the agreement, the UNHCR will join hands with Myanmar government in implementation of voluntary repatriation, in conducting assessments at their potential pilot project sites and will work with UNDP in preparation for recovery and resilience-based development in potential area, a statement of the Ministry of State Counsellor's Office said.
Also, the UNDP will cooperate with the government in undertaking the planning process for resilience-based recovery and development that will benefit all communities and will promote social cohesion among the communities as well as will support access to livelihoods.
In 1993, Myanmar government and UNHCR signed a MoU to provide a framework of assistance and cooperation in voluntary repatriation program from Bangladesh and about 230,000 displaced persons were repatriated under the MoU, the press release added.
Meanwhile, Myanmar has recently received first batch of 62 returnees through Nga Khu Ya reception camp in Rakhine state, who had fled to Bangladesh due to the Rakhine state conflict and they were being transferred to the Hla Pho Khaung transit camp in Maungtaw after proper verification.
Myanmar and Bangladesh had reached an agreement on the arrangement concerning the return of displaced people from Rakhine state signed on Nov.23 last year.
The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army extremist terrorists launched attacks on police outposts in Rakhine State on Aug. 23 last year, displacing a vast number of residents to areas bordering with Bangladesh.