A number of countries and international aid agencies have so far provided 1,548 tons of emergency relief for the Rohingya refugees who took shelter at the makeshift camps in Cox’s Bazar since a renewed violence erupted in Rakhine state of Myanmar.
Out of the total quantity, some 1000 tons relief were received on Thursday and Friday, officials said.
“So far, we have received 1,548 tons of emergency aid. Several countries and international aid agencies have provided the assistance for the Rohingya refugees,” Habibur Rahman, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) of Chittagong told The New Nation yesterday.
He said cargo planes carrying relief supplies have arrived at Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Morocco, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran, the UAE, China and the UK.
Aid agencies however said that relief that they have received in the last 21 days is not adequate to cover all the Rohigya refugees.
“It is too little to help all the refugees. The donors should scale up their support so that we can smoothly respond to the crisis,” an aid worker told The New Nation yesterday on condition of anonymity.
On Friday morning, a cargo plane carrying 85 metric tons of relief of British government arrived at Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport.
Later, another cargo plane landed at the airport carrying 60 tons relief materials donated by Norway and Finland Red Cross. On Thursday, a British cargo plane carrying 98 metric tons of relief materials arrived at the airport.
The relief materials include shelter kit, blanket, sleeping mat and medicine.
Authorities on Saturday released the relief materials from the aircraft and sent them to the government storages at Cox’s Bazar.
Azerbaijan and Malaysia were the first countries to send aid. Azerbaijan sent 100 tons of goods on September 9 and has promised to provide more, while Malaysia sent 12 tons of relief goods that included rice, lentils, oil and sugar.
The Republic of Turkey sent 55 tons of food aid as well on September 9, as well as an ambulance and toys for the children. The food aid includes rice, vegetable oil, lentils, sugar and salt.
Indonesia has so far sent four cargo planes carrying 77 tons of relief items, including electric generators, family kits, different food items, biscuits and coconut oil, while Morocco sent 14 tons of goods, including tents, blankets, medicine, powdered milk, mattress and rice.
India provided 53 tons of relief on September 14 and another 107 tons arrived the following day (September 15) at the Shah Amanat Airport. An Indian Navy ship carrying 700 tons of aid arrived at Chittagong Port on Thursday morning totaling its aid to 860 tons.
Indian aid included rice, lentils, salt, sugar, tea, powdered milk, biscuits, soap and mosquito nets.
Forty tons of relief from Iran including mattresses, tents, blankets, biscuits, dry food and medicine reached Chittagong on September 15.
China has so far sent a total of 110.53 tonnes of aid for the Rohingyas.
The UAE has given 830,000 Dirham (Tk1.83 crore) for the Rohingya.
Besides, Australia, Switzerland, Denmark, Kuwait, European Union and many other countries have promised to provide aid for the Rohigya refugees.
