UN promises no forced repatriation
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The UN Refuge Agency UNHCR has promised that Myanmar war refugees will not be forced back to the country, an official from the local United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) told the Daily Eleven newspaper.
The promise was made during a meeting between officials from both sides in Thailand on Thursday, said UNFC Secretary Colonel Khun Oakka.
The UNHCR “asked what measures we included in our political talks with the government regarding the war victims. They said they were ready to provide necessary aid for those victims,” he said.
“The main point they focused on was that they would not send the refugees back to Myanmar,” said Khun Oakka.
On its part, the UNFC would not promptly arrange to repatriate war refugees, with such action only taken based on results from ongoing political talks, he added.
According to data released by UNOCHA, there are over 632,000 internally displaced people, including war refugees, across Myanmar.
More than 400,000 are from 36 townships in Kayin State. They fled their homes due to conflict between government troops and rebel forces of the Karen National Union. Many have been living for years in refugee camps on the border with Thailand.
Refugees from Kachin State and northern Shan State are reportedly in need of over US$50 million in aid. However, only US$1.2 million (Bt37.1 million) has been received.
