Turkish foundation continues aid to Rohingya

BALUKHALI, Bangladesh

Turkey’s IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation has been at the forefront in delivering aid to Rohingya Muslims, who have fled persecution in Myanmar and taken refuge in bordering Bangladesh.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Ahmet Sarikurt, an administrative body member for IHH, said: “We carry out the assistance generally with Turkish people’s donations and various institutions abroad.”

So far, IHH has helped out tens of thousands of Rohingya.

The foundation has distributed more than 43,000 food packages, provided hot food to 9,000 people and cooked meat to 124,000 others.

It has distributed tents and built temporary shelters for nearly 21,000 families.

At the camps, the charity group has built 65 wells and 205 toilets.

In its latest the foundation distributed clothes to women and children at the Balukhali camp, in Bangladesh's coastal Cox's Bazar city.

The clothes were distributed to 7,350 families.

Additionally, blankets have been distributed to 10,000 families. The foundation plans to distribute 10,000 more blankets.

In the healthcare sector, 15,000 people receive treatment every day in three health operated by the foundation in the Bangladeshi camps and Myanmar.

So far, 55,000 people have undergone medical screening.

Since Aug. 25, over 620,000 Rohingya have crossed from Myanmar's western state of Rakhine into Bangladesh, according to the UN.

The refugees are fleeing a military operation in which security forces and Buddhist mobs have killed men, women and children, looted homes and torched Rohingya villages. According to Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali, 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 raised 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.

Last October, following attacks on border posts in Rakhine's Maungdaw district, security forces launched a five-month crackdown in which, according to Rohingya groups, around 400 people were killed.

The UN documented mass gang rapes, killings -- including of infants and young children -- brutal beatings, and disappearances committed by security personnel. In a report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.

Reporting by Tugrul Cam; Writing by Sena Guler