India has begun sending send relief material to Bangladesh to help it deal with large influx of Rohingya Muslim refugees who are escaping violence in Mynamar. The relief material will be delivered in multiple consignments, the first tranche of which was sent to Chittagong by an Indian Air Force plane on Thursday.
“In response to the humanitarian crisis being faced on account of the large influx of refugees into Bangladesh, Government of India has decided to extend assistance to Bangladesh. The relief material consists of items required urgently by the affected people, namely rice, pulses, sugar, salt, cooking oil, tea, ready to eat noodles, biscuits, mosquito nets etc,” Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. The Indian Government has termed the mission to send relief material as ‘Operation Insaniyat’.
“India has always responded readily and swiftly to any crisis in Bangladesh, in keeping with the close ties of friendship between the peoples of India and Bangladesh. India stands ready to provide any assistance required by Government of Bangladesh in this hour of need,” MEA added.
According to Indian Air Force, one C-17 Globemaster strategic heavy lift cargo aircraft carried 55 tons of relief material to Chittagong, Bangladesh. One more C-17 is scheduled to airlift additional relief material to Bangladesh. “The Indian Air Force rose to the challenge and played a pivotal role to further strengthen the close ties of friendship between India and Bangladesh,” IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Anupam Banerjee said.
Bangladesh had on Sunday sought India’s support in handling the Rohingya issue by mounting pressure on Myanmar to take back the refugees who have taken shelter in the country. According to the United Nations, nearly 300,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar’s Rakhine state into Bangladesh since August 25 when a fresh wave of violence erupted when militants attacked police posts in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine State.
The Rohingyas allege that the military and Rakhine Buddhists responded with a brutal campaign against them. Myanmar rejects this, saying its military is fighting against Rohingya “terrorists”.