Turkish NGO delivers aid to Rohingya Muslims

By Izzet Taskiran

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkey-based Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) said Wednesday that it had delivered aid to 270,000 Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state since Aug. 25 when the latest violence erupted.

In a statement the foundation said that those who managed to escape from the massacre are trying to take refuge in Bangladesh, while others are left at the mercy of the Myanmar troops and Buddhist mobs.

The statement added that in addition to providing aid in the Rakhine state, the foundation continues to help Rohingya refugees who have crossed into Bangladesh.

Yasar Kutluay, vice chairman for IHH, said that the foundation would continue to help Rohingya Muslims until the crisis is over.

Since Aug. 25, about 520,000 Rohingya have crossed from 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.