Myanmar has signed an agreement with two UN agencies for chalking out a framework for the repatriation of Rohingyas, now living in timid and squalid camps in Bangladesh.
UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar Knut Ostby, confirmed in a Twitter post that deals with the UNHCR and UNDP was inked on Wednesday.
The UNDP, in a statement, described the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as the ‘first and necessary step’ to create conditions for the return of Rohingyas.
“...aimed at creating conducive conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of refugees from Bangladesh and for helping to create improved and resilient livelihoods for all communities living in Rakhine State,” reads the statement.
In April, Bangladesh and UNHCR signed a MoU relating to voluntary returns of Rohingya refugees once conditions in Myanmar are deemed conducive.
Since August 2017, some 700,000 Rohingyas have fled a military crackdown in Rakhine with many reporting killings, rape and arson on a large scale.
The United Nations and aid agencies have described the crackdown on the Rohingya as "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing", an accusation Myanmar rejects.
Myanmar has for years denied Rohingya citizenship, freedom of movement and access to basic services such as healthcare. Many in Myanmar regard the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from mostly Muslim Bangladesh.