The UN yesterday signed for the third year extension of a tripartite deal with Myanmar on creating conditions conducive to Roingyas' return to Rakhine.

The signing of the deal comes at a time when the ongoing armed conflict in Rakhine and Chin states has deepened the operational challenges faced by aid agencies.

Representatives of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Myanmar's ministry of labour, immigration and population signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) extension documents in Naypyidaw for a year.

"The MoU aims at helping create a conducive environment for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh as well as supporting recovery and resilience-based development for the benefit of all communities living in the three northern townships of Rakhine State," said a statement of UNHCR in Myanmar.

The deal was initially signed on June 6, 2018, more than a year after some 750,000 Rohingyas fled a brutal military crackdown in Rakhine state, while thousands were killed and their houses and properties burnt.

Initially, Bangladesh and Myanmar signed an MoU on repatriation of the Rohingyas, but repeated attempts of Rohingya repatriation failed as both the UN and Rohingyas say the situation in Rakhine is not conducive to their return. Rohingyas say there is no guarantee of freedom of movement, citizenship and safety in Rakhine.

Following a case filed by the Gambia, the International Court of Justice on January 23 this year ordered the Myanmar government to take provisional measures to prevent crimes of genocide against Rohingyas in Rakhine and submit reports relating to those within four months.

However, there is no progress. Independent human rights expert of UN, Yanghee Lee, in late April said war crimes and crimes against humanity were still going on in Rakhine and Chin states as Myanmar military has ramped up attacks in recent weeks against civilians, displacing more than 157,000 people.

The UNDP and UNHCR in a joint statement said the environment in Rakhine is not yet conducive to the voluntary repatriation of refugees, but the MoU has allowed UNHCR and UNDP teams to assess the immediate needs in over 120 villages in Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships.

Since the initial MoU was signed in 2018, a total of 75 quick impact projects have been approved, including for community infrastructure such as water improvement, school and road rehabilitation, skills training and income-generating projects, as well as projects targeting persons with specific needs.

A seventh round of assessments is now proceeding, but constrained due to the Covid-19 situation.

The statement said consistent access for UNDP, UNHCR, and their partners is essential to ensure expanded implementation of the MoU.

The two UN agencies said they remain committed to supporting Myanmar's work to improve the conditions in Rakhine for voluntary return of Rohingyas.

They called on Myanmar to address the root causes of the crisis by fully implementing the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, including those on freedom of movement, a clear and voluntary pathway to citizenship and increased access to public services and livelihoods.