UN launches aid appeal for Rohingya refugees

AMN

India has sent to Bangladesh its second relief consignment to help tens of thousands of displaced Rohingya Muslims who fled Myanmar following a military crackdown, triggering one of the world’s worst refugee crises.

Indian Navy Ship INS Airavat reached Chattogram port yesterday with 373-tonne consignment containing milk powder, baby food, raincoats, gumboots and dried fish. The relief materials were handed over by the Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla to the relief consignment to Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzel Hussain Chowdhury Maya.

Indian High Commissioner said another tranche containing 1 million litres of kerosene oil and 20,000 cooking stoves is expected to arrive soon. He said India sent the relief in view of the specific needs of a large number of women and children living in the camps and the onset of monsoon. Earlier, India sent relief materials in September last year under ‘Operation Insaniyat’ to support Bangladesh in its humanitarian efforts.

Over 600,000 Rohingyas have fled Myanmar’s violence-hit Rakhine state to neighbouring Bangladesh since August when the military intensified the crackdown against alleged militant outfits of Rohingyas.