Children are seen at the Ngakhuya village in Maungtaw township, Myanmar's northern Rakhine state, on Oct. 10, 2017. The Myanmar government has reiterated its commitment to carrying out verification and repatriation of refugees fleeing to Bangladesh from northern Rakhine state amid attacks by extremist terrorists in August. (Xinhua/Haymhan Aung)
SITTWAY, Myanmar, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar government has reiterated its commitment to carrying out verification and repatriation of refugees fleeing to Bangladesh from northern Rakhine state amid attacks by extremist terrorists in August.
U Kyaw Tint Swe, minister for the Office of the State Counselor, made the remarks during Tuesday's trip to Maungtaw in conflict-torn Rakhine state by a delegation of diplomats from neighboring countries including China, Bangladesh, India, Thailand and Laos. The trip was organized by the Myanmar government and led by the minister.
"Though the number of refugees who fled to the neighboring country is in the hundreds of thousands, the Myanmar government is committed to repatriation of those who actually settled in Myanmar," U Kyaw Tint Swe said, stressing that there is no need for the refugees to abandon the villages they lived previously and flee to other country. The minister pledged that they would be fully provided with humanitarian aid and security.
U Kyaw Tint Swe insisted that the verification and repatriation process will be conducted in accordance with the agreement between the foreign ministries of Myanmar and Bangladesh in 1992.
The delegation visited Yathedaung township's Anaukpyin village where most of the Muslim community did not flee to Bangladesh and are living in peace there.
The delegation also met those Muslims who had gathered near Layyinpyankwin village and near the border fence and are ready to leave for Bangladesh.
U Kyaw Tint Swe urged the departing Muslim villagers to stay back, promising to provide them with humanitarian aid and security.
The diplomats interviewed the villagers about the regional security status, the cause of their fleeing to the neighboring country and if they have received humanitarian aid or not.
At a meeting with Muslims from Pantawpyin village in Maungtaw township, the minister pledged to rebuild the homes destroyed in the terrorists attacks and clarified the verification process.
The delegation also visited Ngakhuya village where ethnic Rakhine people, Hindus and Muslim are living together.
In ethnic Mro village of Khondaing, which was completely burned up by the terrorists, the authorities encouraged the villagers by promising that the government will rebuild a new village in a new area and provide them with further humanitarian aid.
Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu said the government is pushing for the implementation of the tasks of rehabilitation in three areas - compilation of list, food supply for refugees and improvement of communication and transport.
The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army extremist terrorists launched fresh attacks on police outposts in Rakhine on Aug. 25, displacing residents from a number of areas in Maungtaw district.
