Saudi King Salman orders $15m to help Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh: Report

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has ordered a $15 million fund for Muslim Rohingyas who are currently in Bangladesh fleeing persecution in Rakhine state of Myanmar.

Dr Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, adviser at the Royal Court and general supervisor of the King Salman Centre for Relief and Humanitarian Work, announced the fund in a statement, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

“A specialised team from the centre will be heading to Bangladesh within the coming few hours to make an assessment of the condition of Rohingya refugees there and to find out what are the essential requirements that are to be made available to them urgently, as well as to extend assistance in terms of relief, humanitarian help and shelter.

“As per the directive of the King, the centre has carried out a number of projects, while some others are in various phases of implementation,” Al-Rabeeah said.

A Rohingya refugee boy jostles for aid in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh September 20, 2017. Reuters

He made the remarks following his meeting with members of the National Council on US-Arab Relations and the Cooperation Committee for partnership between the US and Gulf Cooperation Council at the headquarters of the US House of Representatives in Washington.

He added that the centre has implemented the first phase of the repatriation of Rohingya from Rakhine state in a number of governorates in cooperation with the International Organisation for Migration.