October 07, 2020
Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye joined the opening session of 71st Session of UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) Executive Committee held in Geneva of Switzerland via online on 5 October.
The member states of UNHCR, observers of UN member states or non-UN member states, other observing organizations, UN organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations joined the meeting. The opening ceremony was held on 5 October and during the event, the High Commissioner of UNHCR Mr Fillipo Grandi and Executive Director of UNICEF Ms Henrietta Fore respectively made a remark.
Then, Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye made a speech at the event, saying that the country is conducting COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment activities without leaving one behind and serving especially for the internally displaced persons and others in vulnerable group. The government also implemented plans to execute COVID-19 by using K2.1billion and beefed up the measures against COVID-19 since Sittway Township of Rakhine State reported local transmissions in mid August.
As eight townships in Rakhine State imposed travel restrictions, the government cooperated with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to provide food to those in these areas. The Union Minister continued saying that COVID-19 prevention and control activities are being conducted in Rakhine State while the humanitarian aids are also provided. It also serves 24 hours phone services to settle gender-based abuses. Social protection assistance is also provided to the expectant mothers, elderly persons and the people with disabilities including the internally displaced persons at IDP camps.
Although there are some restrictions druing COVID-19, the government keeps carrying out the procedures in accordance with the National Strategy on closing IDP camps and resettlement of IDPs . It also negotiated with the local and foreign experts to draft the plans regarding with this cases.
Moreover, the country keeps carrying out peace processes which play a key role in ending conflicts, and the fourth session of Union Peace Conference -21st Century Panglong was held successfully and achieved the principles for the establishment of federal democratic union and accords to implement in the post-2020.
The Union Minister pledged that Myanmar will make efforts for transition to democracy system, national reconcilation, peace process, ending of conflicts, promoting of human rights, socio-economic growth and sustainable development although the country has many challenges.
Then, High Commissioner Mr Follipo Grandi said that UNHCR provides the needed assistance to Myanmar for COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment activities and it also knows about the performance of government for the internally displaced persons. Such news is very important for the IDPs and improving the situation of IDPs will have a good impact to restart the programme of accepting the returnees from Bangladesh.
He continued saying that he would like to urge the government to find ways to give information about the performance of government to the IDPs and extended his best wishes to be able to hold free and fair elections and urged to continue making efforts for the internally displaced persons in the post-election period. The session will be held until 9 October.—MNA (Translated by Khine Thazin Han)
