Myanmar, Bangladesh to cooperate with UNHCR on Rohingya return
Myanmar and Bangladesh have agreed to take assistance from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHRC) to repatriate hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims from Bangladesh to Myanmar.
Rohingya refugees wait at a relief centre after crossing the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in the Teknaf area, Bangladesh, November 23, 2017 (Photo Reuters/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Myanmar and Bangladesh have agreed to takeassistance from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHRC) to repatriatehundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims from Bangladesh to Myanmar.
BangladeshForeign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said on November 25 that the threesides will establish a joint working group within three weeks to fix the termsfor the repatriation of Rohingya Muslims.
Thepriority is to ensure safety, he said, adding that Rohingya people willinitially have to live in temporary shelters or camps after their return toMyanmar from Bangladesh.
OnNovember 23, the two countries signed an agreement on the repatriation processof Rohingya Muslims, which is expected to start in two months.
Some620,000 Rohingya people had to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh after violencebroke out in Myanmar’s Rakhine state on August 25. Rohingya militants attacked24 police posts and a military base, leading to the government to respond with a security campaign. Clashes have killed at least 110 so far.-VNA
Myanmar and Bangladesh have accepted China’s mediatory role and agreed to implement a three-phase solution proposed by its Foreign Minister Wang Yi to resolve the Rohingya refugee crisis.
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Rohingya refugees wait at a relief centre after crossing the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in the Teknaf area, Bangladesh, November 23, 2017 (Photo Reuters/VNA) 
