India focused on safety, speed and sustainability for Rohingya return

India is focusing on three 'Ss' to address the Rohingya crisis, High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla says.

In his first visit to Rohingya camp in Kutupalong, Ukhiya, he said the return process to Rakhine State must be 'safe, speedy, and sustainable'.

The High Commissioner handed over new relief materials for Myanmar’s Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh to Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzel Hussain Chowdhury Maya on Monday.

Over 1.1 million litres of SKO (super kerosene oil) and 20,000 kerosene multi wick stoves have been handed over in the third phase of humanitarian assistance from the government of India to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is currently providing shelter to over 1 million Rohingyas who have fled ethnic cleansing in the Rakhine State.

The minister thanked India for its fuel support and said the latest round of Indian aid will provide over 20,000 families with fuel for cooking for five months.

"Fuel is a big problem and it's a complex issue. We sought support from India and they responded very positively. We thank them for this support. "

The Indian High Commissioner said India always stood by Bangladesh in times of need, Maya said.

"Ours is a relationship based on trust, friendship and shared martyrdom that goes beyond strategic partnership, " he said, adding that India will continue to extend humanitarian assistance.

Previously, in September 2017, after the August exodus, the Indian government, under ‘Operation Insaniyat’, extended the first phase of humanitarian assistance comprising of 981 metric tonnes (MT) of relief supplies.

The relief material consisted of family packs of rice, pulses, sugar, salt, cooking oil, tea, ready-to-eat noodles, biscuits, and mosquito nets.

Later, in May this year, 373 metric tonnes of relief materials, including 104 MT milk powder; 102 MT dried fish, 61 MT baby food, 50,000 raincoats; and 50,000 pairs of gum boots for the rainy season were handed over in Chattogram.