Japan announces $3 million grant to Myanmar for Rohingya return

NewsBharati    12-Jan-2018
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Tokyo, January 12: While ongoing Rohingya crisis is haunting Myanmar and Bangladesh both countries, Japan has announced Friday a grant of $3 million to Myanmar to help repatriate the refugees. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono who is on a Myanmar visit, asked Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, to ensure the “safe and voluntary repatriation and resettlement” of members of the Rohingya ethnic group.

“Japan wants to actively support Myanmar’s efforts,” including in Rakhine, Japanese Foreign Minister said. The grant announced by Japan to Myanmar was aimed to assist with rebuilding living conditions for “displaced persons returning to Myanmar from Bangladesh” in Rakhine. Japan is also planning to give roughly $20 million more to Myanmar.

“We thank Japan for thinking not just of the short term, but also about what it can do in the long term,” Myanmar leader Suu Kyi said. Suu Kyi stressed the importance of the rule of law and said the military will take responsibility. It was the first meeting between Suu Kyi and Taro Kono.

During his three day visit, Japanese Minister Taro Kono will also visit Rakhine village from where the conflict broke out. Humanitarian groups estimate that more than 600,000 Rohingyas fled to neighboring Bangladesh. The two countries also signed a repatriation deal.

Japan Myanmar Taro Kono Suu Kyi Rakhine Rohingya