"Two UN bodies have given the Myanmar government one more year, to establish a framework for the voluntary return of ethnic Rohingya Muslims to their homes. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on Monday agreed to extend a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Myanmar for another year, reports UNB. This framework for cooperation between the UN and the Myanmar government was initially signed on June 6, 2018, and previously extended in May 2019. The MoU is aimed at creating a conducive condition for voluntary and sustainable repatriation of Rohingya from Bangladesh. Commenting on the situation the UN agencies said, “Creating a conducive environment for the voluntary, safe and dignified return of refugees and to improving the enjoyment of human rights for the population still residing in Myanmar is the responsibility of the government of Myanmar, UNDP and UNHCR remain committed to supporting this work.” The exchange of documents took place between the Myanmar's Ministry of Labor, Immigration, and Population, and representatives of the UN bodies. The MoU will extend cooperation through June 2021. In a joint statement, UNDP and UNHCR said while the environment in Rakhine is not yet conducive to the voluntary repatriation of Rohingyas, the MoU has allowed the UN agencies to assess the immediate needs in over 120 villages so far in Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships. Since the initial MoU was signed in 2018, a total of 75 quick impact projects (QIPs) 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..."