Myanmar, Bangladesh sign Rohingya return deal

Rohingya refugee children struggle as they wait to receive food outside the distribution center at Palong Khali refugee camp near Cox’s Bazar

Myanmar and Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday, a senior Myanmar official told Reuters, for the return home of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who fled to the neighbouring country to escape a Myanmar army crackdown.

“We are ready to take them back as soon as possible after Bangladesh sends the forms back to us,” said Myint Kyaing, a permanent secretary at Myanmar‘s ministry of labour, immigration and population, referring to registration forms the Rohingya must complete with personal details before repatriation.