Turkey To Send Aid To Rohingya in Myanmar After Erdoğan's Talks With Aung San Suu Kyi
23 August 2017President Recep Tayyip
Erdoğan spoke Tuesday with Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi over
the ongoing humanitarian crisis involving Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence
and persecution in the Rakhine state.
According to Turkish presidency sources, Erdoğan told Suu Kyi that increase in
human rights violations against Rohingya Muslims causes great concern for the
world and Muslim countries.
The two leaders discussed methods to solve the ongoing crisis and ways to
provide humanitarian aid to the local population.
Turkey condemns both the terror and operations targeting innocent civilians,
Erdoğan said, adding that incidents in Rakhine turning into a grave
humanitarian crisis causes public indignation. He urged Suu Kyi to refrain
from excessive use of force and show utmost sensitivity to protect civilians.
Erdoğan also informed the Myanmarese leader about his talks with world leaders
over the issue, including the U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and
Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid.
Following the talks, Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalın announced that
the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) will be the first
foreign body to provide aid to Rohingya Muslims in the Rakhine state.
"At the initial stage, emergency relief packages, which consist of the
people's basic foodstuff – rice, dried fish and clothing, will be provided to
the Rohingya who escaped from attacks in Maungtaw and Buthi Taung to the
mountain regions," Kalın said.
Citing ongoing concerns about uncertainty and security in Rakhine, Kalın said
that aid will be delivered via military helicopters in cooperation with
Rakhine State Government, adding that Turkey will also deliver medicine and
medical supplies to those in need.
On Thursday, a delegation, which will include Foreign Minister Mevlüt
Çavuşoğlu and TIKA President Serdar Çam, will personally provide assistance
and first aid to Rohingya Muslims in the camps near Cox's Bazaar in
Bangladesh, Kalın said, adding that Turkey will deliver aid to 100,000
families.
The State Counselor of Myanmar is the de facto head of government of Myanmar,
equivalent to a prime minister.
Violence broke out in the Rakhine state after security forces launched an
operation against Rohingya Muslims, forcing at least 120,000 people, including
women and children to flee and seek refuge in neighboring Bangladesh since
Aug. 25, when clashes began.
Myanmar security forces are accused of using disproportionate force and
destroying homes of the Rohingya.
The U.N. documented mass gang-rape, killings -- including infants and young
children -- brutal beatings and disappearances. Rohingya representatives have
said approximately 400 people have been slain in the crackdown.
FM Çavuşoğlu to travel to Bangladesh to discuss Rohingya
Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu will travel to Bangladesh Wednesday to
discuss the situation of Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence in Myanmar,
diplomatic sources said Tuesday.
Çavuşoğlu spoke with his Bangladeshi counterpart Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali on the
phone and discussed latest developments regarding the humanitarian situation.
He will travel from Baku to Bangladesh late Wednesday, diplomatic sources
added.
Çavuşoğlu will also visit a refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, southern Bangladesh,
near the border with Myanmar.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalın announced Tuesday that a
delegation, which will include Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Turkish
Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) President Serdar Çam, will
personally visit Rohingya the camps near Cox's Bazaar in Bangladesh to deliver
aid containing food, medical supplies and ambulances, adding that Turkey will
deliver aid to 100,000 families.
The Turkish foreign minister has been involved in intense phone diplomacy and
has spoken with his Malaysian, Indonesian, Qatari, Iranian counterparts
regarding the matter.
Ankara has openly criticized the treatment of Rohingya Muslims living in the
Rakhine state in Myanmar and has urged the international community to take
action to prevent suffering.
Last week, Çavuşoğlu called on Bangladesh to open its doors to Rohingya
Muslims fleeing violence in Myanmar's western Rakhine state, saying that
Turkey would be willing to cover the expenses for them.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is also expected to hold talks with Myanmar's
leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Violence broke out in the Rakhine after security forces launched an operation
against Rohingya Muslims, forcing nearly 125,000 people, including women and
children to flee and seek refuge in neighboring Bangladesh since Aug. 25, when
clashes began.
Myanmar security forces are accused of using disproportionate force and
destroying homes of the Rohingya.
The U.N. documented mass gang-rape, killings -- including infants and young
children -- brutal beatings and disappearances. Rohingya representatives have
said approximately 400 people have been slain in the crackdown.
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