COX'S BAZAR
Turkish Red Crescent Aid Society is delivering the aid which was collected in Turkey to the Rohingya Muslims who escaped to Bangladesh after being exposed to violence in the Arakan (Rakhine) region of Myanmar.
Chairman of the Turkish Red Crescent Aid Society, Ahmet Lutfi Akar stated on Friday that their aim is to go to the Arakan side and keep contributing there however they have not received any replies from the officials of Myanmar.
Chairman of the Turkish Red Crescent Ahmet Lutfi Akar, Red Crescent Director General Omer Tasli and aid team of Turkish Red Crescent Aid Society went to the Cox's Bazaar region of Bangladesh near border with Myanmar to identify on site what Rohingya Muslims need.
After inspecting the Kutubalong camp in Cox's Bazaar, Turkish Red Crescent team joined the disbursement of aid. Rice, sugar, lentil, salt and cooking oil were given to Rohingya Muslims at the distribution centre. Alongside Turkish aid team, volunteers coming from different places gave financial aid to needed ones too.
Speaking to AA at the disbursement of aid, Ahmet Lutfi Akar reminded Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's sharp reaction to the massacre in Myanmar and said that Turkey is sensitive about what is happening in the region.
Akar stated that they are aiming to observe on-site so they can find out what they will need to pass to needed ones. He added that with the support of the Turkish government, Turkish Red Crescent will keep helping the Rohingya Muslims.
Akar also noted that they would like to help Rohingya Muslims at their home country in Arakan region of Myanmar. He said, "Our main aim is to go to Arakan and keep distributing aid there however we have not heard back from the official of Myanmar yet. We can only get in touch with refugees, getting information from them."
Akar expressed that they are in touch with the Bangladeshi officials too. More, they got informed about the government's policies over the asylum seekers and said, "Bangladeshi government does not want too many refugees coming in. They do not want refugees changing their standards. That is why we are also helping Bangladeshis. Our actual wish is to help people who ran away from their homes and seek asylum."
He underlined the help of Turkish government and said, "This is the tradition of the Republic of Turkey, all our non-governmental organizations keep coming here, I would like to thank them too."
