India gives fresh relief for Rohingyas

The relief supplies carried by Indian Naval Ship ‘Airavat’ for the Rohingya people were handed over to Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya on Wednesday.

Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla officially handed over the materials to the minister at a ceremony at the no 2 jetty of the port here around 9 am.

The Indian Naval Ship sailing from Vishakhapatnam docked at the Chittagong Port around 9 am on Tuesday.

The materials include 50,000 rain coats, 50,000 pairs of gumboot, 45 metric tons baby food, 100 tons of powder milk, 100 tons of dry fish and kerosene.

While speaking at the ceremony, the minister urged India to put pressure on Myanmar for bringing back Rohingyas.

He said, “At least 12 lakh Rohingyas took shelter in Bangladesh and the government has given shelter to them despite hundreds of limitations.”

The registration of over 11 lakh Rohingyas have been done, the minister said adding: “30 camps have been established for their rehabilitation while the government has constructed 13 kilometers of roads for easy transportation of relief materials.”

Harsh Vardhan Shringla said, “India has always stood beside Bangladesh in time of need. Our relationship based on trust, friendship and shared martyrdom that goes beyond strategic partnership.”

“Today, we stand beside the friendly people of Bangladesh with our second phase of relief assistance to help face the humanitarian crisis caused by the influx of displaced persons from the Rakhine State of Myanmar,” he added.

In September 2017, the government of India had extended the first phase of humanitarian assistance comprising of 981 metric tonnes of relief supplies. 

Mohammed Abul Kalam, Additional Secretary, Refuge, Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, Md. Ilyas Hossen, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Chittagong, Habibur Rahman were, among others, present there.

Source: unb