U.N. and Myanmar agree outline of Rohingya return deal, but not details
Myanmar on Thursday finally allowed UN agencies to play a role in the repatriation of Rohingya refugees who have fled to neighboring Bangladesh. "The UN agencies will cooperate with the government for the repatriation of the displaced persons who have been duly verified so that they can return voluntarily in safe and in dignity," said a statement from the office of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.
- World
- Reuters
- Published Date: 12:00 | 31 May 2018
- Modified Date: 06:59 | 31 May 2018
The United Nations refugee agency said on Thursday that it had reached a framework agreement with the Myanmar government aimed at allowing hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims sheltering in Bangladesh to return safely and by choice.
"Since the conditions are not conducive for voluntary return yet, the MoU (memorandum of understanding) is the first and necessary step to support the Government's efforts to change that situation," the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a statement.
Since August 2017, about 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled a military crackdown in mainly Buddhist Myanmar, many reporting killings, rape and arson on a large scale, the U.N. and aid agencies have said.