Iran sends tons of humanitarian aid to Myanmar Muslims
September 13, 2017 - Iran sent tons of humanitarian aid to help resolve the situation of Rohingya Muslims, hundreds of thousands of whom have crossed into Bangladesh since late August to escape a military crackdown.
Photos released by IRNA showed tons of relief aid being prepared for dispatch to Bangladesh by Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) on Wednesday.
Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and Pacific Affairs Ebrahim Rahimpour, earlier the day, had said that the country would send a 100-ton shipment of humanitarian aid for Rohingya Muslims.
Another report by Fars News Agency said that an Iranian delegation also will travel to Bangladesh on Thursday with a consignment of humanitarian aid for the refugees.
The Iranian diplomatic delegation, to be led by Rahimpour, will be accompanied by a team from IRCS, the news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi as saying.
The consignment of Iran’s humanitarian aid for the refugees will be delivered to Bangladesh, Qassemi added.
According to the spokesman, the Iranian delegation will also pay a visit to a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh’ city of Cox’s Bazar.
Meanwhile, Head of the Relief and Rescue Organization of the IRCS Morteza Salimi said the Islamic Republic is also prepared to set up field hospitals for Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh.
The Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar have long faced severe discrimination and were the targets of violence in 2012 that killed hundreds and drove about 140,000 people from their homes to camps for the internally displaced.
On September 12, the UN refugee agency said the number of Rohingya Muslim refugees that have fled recent violence in Myanmar has spiked to about 370,000.