Myanmar launches project to reconstruct northern Rakhine

Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi (Photo: Mizzima)

Hanoi (VNA) – Myanmar has launched a project to rebuild destroyed houses in the northern Rakhine state under a mechanism of the Union Enterprises for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development (UEHRD).

The project commenced on October 16, only three days after State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi announced the mechanism, chaired by herself, involving the private sector, local non-governmental organisations, friendly countries and United Nations agencies.

The mechanism is aimed at allowing the government and all local and international organisations to work in all sectors and all social strata.

Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Myat Aye chaired the launching of the project. The minister's delegation also visited some other villages in Maungtaw town and delivered humanitarian aid to the villagers.

Aung San Suu Kyi, in a speech to the nation on October 12, highlighted three main tasks to be done in Rakhine, including the repatriation of refugees who have crossed over to Bangladesh and effective provision of humanitarian assistance; resettlement and rehabilitation of affected areas; and support for regional development and maintenance of lasting peace.

She called for setting up the UEHRD in Rakhine, noting that the government pledged readiness to implement a national verification and repatriation process in accordance with the criteria reached by the foreign ministries of Myanmar and Bangladesh in 1992.-VNA