Turkey to continue sending humanitarian aid to Rohingya: Envoy

Turkey's Ambassador to Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan said on Nov. 13 that his country would continue its whole-hearted humanitarian support to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh until the peaceful repatriation of the persecuted people to their home country of Myanmar.

As part of a two-day visit, Turan visited Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh's southern tourist-hub district of Cox's Bazar, home to more than 1.2 million stateless Rohingya Muslims, most of whom fled a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine State in August 2017.

He arrived in Cox's Bazar early Saturday to observe different aid services and training programs conducted by Turkish organizations, including the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), Diyanet Foundation, and Turkish Red Crescent.

Turan said Turkey is always supportive to reduce the suffering of the Rohingya since the very beginning of the crisis.

"We, along with the UN and other concerned authorities, have been working for peaceful and dignified repatriation of the Rohingya," he added.

The Rohingya also expressed their gratitude to the Turkish people and their government for their support that covers medical treatment, food supplies, recreation, vocational training, mental support and other areas.

"After each of the five-time prayers, we pray to almighty Allah for the wellbeing of Turkish President [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan and Turkish people as they are helping us like a brother from the very beginning of our massive sufferings in 2017," Maolana Abul Kalam Azad, the imam of a Rohingya camp-based mosque, told the Turkish envoy.

Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC), Shah Rezwan Hayat, and additional commissioner...