MYEIK-Myanmar migrants stranded in Thailand are now returning their native via Kawtthaung border as the second batch but they will only be allowed back home if they tested negative for COVID-19.
After the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand, the government is now bringing back its citizens stranded in Thailand.
Totaling 44 Myanmar migrant workers arrived in Kawthaung via Ranoi, Thailand on May 23rd.
The authorities welcomed back the returnees at Kawthaung and they will be carrying out health screening activities and checks whether the returnees are Myanmar citizens or not. And then, authorities sent the returnees to Quarantine centers for 21 days.
“The returnees from Thailand must be kept in Quarantine for 21 days. We are going to keep them at the shutters in Pulonetontone Township and indoor stadium in the downtown after dividing male and female. Later, we are going to diagnose with COVID-19 virus. If they tested negative for COVID-19, we are going to hand over the returnees to their natives. We changed the rehabilitation centers in Kawthaung, Shelter, and stadiums in Pulonetontone as the Quarantine centers. All returnees from Thailand must be kept in shelter and stadiums in Palonetontone,” said Zaw Lin Tun, Kawtthaung Township Administrator who is also Chairman of COVID-19 Control and Emergency Response Committee.
Labour In-charge Moe Wai from Thai-based Kawthaung Migrant Labour Education Center also said that the brokers from Thailand extorted money from the returnees and asked for ferry increased fees. So, they were investigating the case.
Before the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand, many Myanmar migrants were returning from Thailand via Kawthaung.
Although Myanmar and Thailand closed their border gates after the COVID-19 outbreak, the migrants returned back home under the agreement between the two countries. It is the second time arrival.
For the first time, there were 178 returnees from Thailand including prisoners.
Before the COVID-19 outbreak, an estimated 4 million migrant workers from Myanmar were working in Thailand.
