Relief consignment from India reaches Chittagong for Rohingya refugees

Indian relief has reached Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong for distribution among Rohingya refugees in the southeastern Bangladesh district of Cox's Bazar.

The consignment weighing around 53 tonnes arrived on a special aircraft of the Indian air force on Thursday afternoon.

India has started 'Operation Insaniyat (Humanity)' to help the Rohingya refugees, said Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla who formally handed the consignment to Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader.

Rice, lentil, biscuit, salt, sugar, soap, mosquito nets and powder milk are there in the first consignment.

India aims to provide 7,000 tonnes of relief in phases and has prepared packets weighing 15kg each, according to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

"We praise Bangladesh government for its effort to ensure food, cloth and shelter for the refugees. Bearing such a huge burden is a challenge indeed," Shringla said.

India stands by Bangladesh as a friend, he added.

Over the last few decades, almost half a million Rohingya Muslims have been living in two registered camps and makeshift settlements Cox's Bazar, fleeing persecution and communal violence.

Attacks on a police camp in October last year sparked an influx of almost 87,000 refugees into Bangladesh. Fresh violence broke out on Aug 25 when insurgents attacked 30 police posts and an army base.

About 400,000 Rohingyas are said to have fled Rakhine and sought shelter over the border in Bangladesh in the weeks since the fresh violence.

The local administration in Cox's Bazar said on Monday that they have set up two booths, one at the Kutupalong refugee camp and the other at the new makeshift camp on the Balukhali Hill.