Dr.Ko Ko Naing, a director general at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, told The Nation on Friday that the authorities recently had a “fruitful discussion” with Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, who was in the country for a five-day visit which began on Monday.

“We have been actively cooperating with UN agencies over the past few years, and UNHCR is one of them. (On Thursday) we discussed with Grandi further plans for collaboration,” he said.

Officials on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on collaboration in disaster management and humanitarian works with Grandi. The agreement, signing in Nay Pyi Taw, will strengthen Myanmar’s ties with the UN refugee agency, allowing UNHCR’s assistance in the event of disasters.

“We will ensure to prioritise security and stability of the conflicted areas while undertaking humanitarian works in disaster-hit regions,” he said.

According to the agreement, UNHCR will have to notify the ministry of any challenges it is facing on the ground so both parties can work together to address them.

“This MoU means an additional three years cooperation with UNHCR. We hope to collaborate more in welcoming Myanmar migrant workers back home as well as providing humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs),” he said.

Prior to the signing, Grandi met with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday, and discussed the extension of the MoU signed between Myanmar, UNDP and UNHCR in June 2018, implementation of the community-based Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), the voluntary return of verified Myanmar nationals from the temporary camps along the Myanmar-Thailand border, and provision of assistance by UNHCR for ensuring peace and development in Myanmar.

In the first two days of his trip, Grandi visited communities in Rakhine State including Muslim refugees in Khaung Doke Khar camp in Sittwe, and the northern townships and met with regional authorities.

In Maungdaw township, in the northern part of Rakhine State, Grandi travelled to a number of villages to hear Rakhine, Rohingya and other communities tell of their challenges, needs and hopes. They also said that projects in their villages – such as water reservoirs, school rehabilitation, road improvements, provision of bicycles and skills training – are already making a difference in their lives.

While driving in northern Rakhine, Grandi saw stretches of empty land once occupied by Rohingya villages now covered by overgrown vegetation. Few signs remain of the houses and markets that once dotted the landscape, the statement said.

In Buthidaung, at a Buddhist monastery hosting Rakhine people recently displaced, representatives told Grandi of their wish to return to their homes as soon as possible. They asked for security to be reestablished, unexploded ordinances cleared and strongly appealed for peace.

The Rakhine State Government currently estimates that around 29,000 people, mostly from the Rakhine community, are displaced in seven townships in Rakhine state due to this conflict.

Grandi also met with a group of Rakhine villagers in Maungdaw township, once a cluster of five villages surrounded by farms and fish ponds, with a large Rohingya population who are now refugees in Bangladesh. They expressed concerns about the impact on the local economy and labour shortages following the departure of their Muslim neighbours.

As the first visit by the UN refugee chief to Myanmar since August 2017, Grandi’s trip comes on the heels of the High Commissioner’s mission to Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh at the end of April. More than 900,000 stateless Rohingya refugees currently live in crowded settlements in Cox’s Bazar, of whom an estimated 741,000 fled from Myanmar since August 2017, according to UNHCR.

“In the course of his stay in Myanmar, Grandi will follow up on a range of issues raised by refugees from Myanmar and will discuss Myanmar’s efforts to find comprehensive and durable solutions to the crisis in Rakhine State,” UNHCR said in a statement.

Prior to his visit to Myanmar, Grandi visited refugee camps in Bangladesh in late April. There, he stressed that key moves and progress must be made by Myanmar authorities.

“The Myanmar side must address the issue of Rohingya rights,” he said. “That includes freedom of movement, access to jobs and services, and a path to citizenship.”

“The students lost their life both because of the fire and jumping out of the building,” Deepak Sapthaley, a fire official in the western city of Surat, told AFP.

Ten of them died from the jump and five from the fire, with up to 20 being treated in hospital, he said. The images showed blazing orange flames and black smoke billowing out of the building.

Sapthaley added that 50 or 60 people were inside the coaching institute on the top floor of the building when the blaze began. The cause was not yet known.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who comes from Gujarat state where the fire broke out, said on Twitter: “Extremely anguished by the fire tragedy in Surat.

“My thoughts are with bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. Have asked the Gujarat Government and local authorities to provide all possible assistance to those affected.”

Local officials said that the fire had spread quickly because of the material used in the roof.

The fire started Friday afternoon when the classes were packed, mostly with teenagers, and the officials were still trying to control the blaze.

Local media reports said that the toll could still rise further as many students were undergoing treatment at local hospitals.

    “The students lost their life both because of the fire and jumping out of the building,” Deepak Sapthaley, a fire official in the western city of Surat, told AFP.

Ten of them died from the jump and five from the fire, with up to 20 being treated in hospital, he said. The images showed blazing orange flames and black smoke billowing out of the building.

Sapthaley added that 50 or 60 people were inside the coaching institute on the top floor of the building when the blaze began. The cause was not yet known.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who comes from Gujarat state where the fire broke out, said on Twitter: “Extremely anguished by the fire tragedy in Surat.

“My thoughts are with bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. Have asked the Gujarat Government and local authorities to provide all possible assistance to those affected.”

Local officials said that the fire had spread quickly because of the material used in the roof.

– Britain votes to leave –

In a June 23, 2016 referendum Britons choose to leave the 28-nation EU by a narrow 52 percent to 48 percent. Conservative prime minister David Cameron, who led the campaign to remain in the EU, resigns.

– May becomes prime minister –

May, the remain-backing interior minister, becomes prime minister on July 13. On January 17, 2017 she sets out her Brexit strategy, saying Britain will leave Europe’s single market to allow it to control EU immigration.

“No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal,” she insists.

– Exit process triggered –

On March 13, 2017 Britain’s parliament approves a bill empowering May to trigger the EU process for leaving the union.

With a letter to the EU Council formally announcing Britain’s intention to leave, the government starts a two-year timetable for withdrawal by March 29, 2019.

– Lost majority –

To strengthen her hand in Brexit negotiations, May calls a snap election for June 8, 2017. Her Conservatives lose their parliamentary majority and are forced to strike a deal for support from Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party.

– Top ministers quit –

On July 6, 2018 May wins agreement from her warring cabinet to pursue “a UK-EU free trade area” and strong alignment with the EU after Brexit.

Two days later Eurosceptic Brexit minister David Davis quits, saying May is giving “too much away too easily”. Foreign minister Boris Johnson follows suit on July 9.

– Draft deal agreed –

On November 13 British and EU negotiators reach a draft divorce agreement, which May’s cabinet backs the following day after heated debate.

But four ministers, including new Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, resign. EU leaders approve the accord on November 25. “This is the only deal possible,” insists European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

May faces a furious backlash from her own party. On December 12 Conservative MPs hold a no-confidence vote but she survives, winning by 200 to 117.

– British MPs reject deal –

In the first parliament vote on the deal on January 15, 2019, MPs are 432 to 202 against — the worst defeat for a government in modern British political history.

It is rejected again on March 12. Main opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn calls a vote of no confidence in the government on January 16.

It survives by 325 to 306 votes, as May’s Conservatives rally round.

– Brexit delay –

With Britain making no headway in finalising its departure deal, the EU on March 21 agrees to a delay but says Britain must outline a plan by April 12 or face a no-deal Brexit.

– May’s resignation pledge –

In a dramatic meeting with fellow Conservatives on March 27, May promises to resign if her main leadership rivals support her deal and help it over the line.

Parliament still rejects the deal on March 29 for the third time.

May reaches out to the Labour Party for a compromise deal to get the Brexit deal through parliament.

She gives the go-ahead for Britain to take part in European Parliament elections on May 23.

 – Six-month delay –

EU leaders agree on April 11 to delay Brexit by up to six months. In early May Conservatives lose hundreds of seats at local elections.

On May 17 the Labour opposition pulls out of talks on a compromise.

– May resigns – 

In last-gasp effort to get a deal through parliament, May promises on May 21 to give lawmakers a vote on whether to hold a second Brexit referendum. It prompts a furious reaction among Conservatives.

May announces on May 24 she will step down as Conservative leader on June 7, making way for the election of a new prime minister.

The EU says her resignation changes nothing in the Brexit talks.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation statement issued on Thursday said the visit comes at the invitation of UN under-secretary-general and Unescap executive secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana.

Hun Sen will be accompanied by Senior Minister Ly Thuch, president of the National Committee for Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Minister of Women’s Affairs Ing Kantha Phavi and other senior government officials, said the release.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan on Thursday told The Post that though he is aware of the premier’s visit to Thailand, he was not aware of the details of the convention’s agenda.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs [and International Cooperation] might know more about the topic than me,” he told The Post.

Ministry spokesman Ket Sophann told The Post that Unescap’s invitation was a sign of the UN’s recognition of the Kingdom’s accomplishments in social and economic development.

Hun Sen is set to deliver a keynote address during the convention’s opening session, which will focus on Cambodia’s experiences in socio-economic development, and how it has helped raise people living standards considerably, Sophann said.

“During the convention, the prime minister will emphasise key issues regarding Cambodia’s developments which help reduce poverty and increase people’s living standards.”

“For more detailed information, you’ll have to wait for [the prime minister] to deliver his speech,” he said.

“It is and will always remain a matter of deep regret to me that I have not been able to deliver Brexit,” May, her voice breaking with emotion, said in a statement outside her Downing Street residence.

Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May announces her resignation outside 10 Downing street in central London on May 24, 2019. // AFP PHOTO

The resignation will signal the formal start of a leadership contest during which May would remain as caretaker prime minister.

“I will resign as leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party on Friday, 7th June,” May said.

“The process for electing a new leadership should begin in the following week,” she said.

The leadership race is expected to take several weeks.