With Asean turning its focus on the repatriation process for Rohingyas during Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi’s recent visit to Myanmar, senior officials have said that they are now ready to welcome the returnees.

The Asean Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ERAT) gained access to Myanmar’s strife-torn Rakhine state last week to conduct a preliminary needs assessment for the return of Rohingya refugees aimed at ending a repatriation stalemate, the Thai Foreign Ministry said on Friday.