"THE Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, together with the United Nations Development Programme, introduced the Rakhine Joint Assessment Report at the Shwe San Eain Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. The ceremony was attended by Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye, Deputy Minister for State Counsellor’s Office U Khin Maung Tin, Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Soe Aung, Rakhine State’s Electricity, Industry and Transport Minister U Aung Kyaw Zan, officials from the Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development, the invited guests, representatives from UN agencies and international organizations. Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye said that the research report was developed to collect information for adopting development assistance policies through humanitarian aid, and for promoting social unity and harmony in Rakhine State. The joint assessment plan was submitted to the Protocol and Ethical Board of the ministry in January 2017 by forming a technical team to be able to implement it in accordance with research ethics and principles and avoid sensitive issues, with seeking recommendations from Rakhine State government and the relevant departments. The survey for Rakhine Joint Assessment began after holding a workshop in Nay Pyi Taw in May 2017. However, the survey works were postponed due to the conflcts in August 2017, and resumed in Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Minbya townships in July and August 2018. The Union Minister also disclosed the findings have indicated that underdevelopment was the main reason of the problems; access to food, nutrition, education and healthcare services is not too much different among different communities; availability of hygiene water is still a grave problem in most of the villages; lower education level and lesser employment opportunities are the underlying causes for temporary jobs..."