Turkey continues to distribute aid to Rohingya Muslims

By Sefa Mutlu

COX'S BAZAAR, Bangladesh

Diyanet Foundation, the charity arm of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate, on Thursday began distributing humanitarian aid to Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh.

According to a statement released by the foundation, food and hygiene packages worth $150,000 were distributed to 3,000 Rohingya families living in camps on the Myanmar-Bangladesh border.

The aid was distributed in nine regions: Kutupalong, Balukhali, Leda, Musuni, Naikkong Chori, Ghundhum, Bandarban, Nhila and Cox's Bazaar.

The charity group expects to distribute humanitarian aid worth $650,000, the statement added.

Since Aug. 25, more than 370,000 Rohingya have crossed from Myanmar's western state of Rakhine into Bangladesh, according to the UN.

The refugees are fleeing a fresh security operation in which security forces and Buddhist mobs have killed men, women and children, looted homes and torched Rohingya villages. According to Bangladesh, around 3,000 Rohingya have been killed in the crackdown.

Turkey has been at the forefront of providing aid to Rohingya refugees and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he will raise the issue at the UN.

The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.