UCA News
Contribute

Rohingya aid ship arrives in Bangladesh

Some 1,472 tons of relief materials to be distributed to more than 15,000 refugees
Rohingya aid ship arrives in Bangladesh

Workers look on as Malaysian ship Nautical Aliya, with relief aid for Rohingya Muslims, is unloaded as she sits moored at the port of Chittagong on Feb. 14 (Photo by AFP)

Published: February 16, 2017 04:36 AM GMT
Updated: February 16, 2017 04:37 AM GMT

Bangladesh authorities on Feb.14 welcomed a Malaysian ship bringing humanitarian aid for thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees as it offloaded food, medicine and other supplies at the port of Chittagong.

Authorities allowed 25 volunteers to leave the ship Nautica Aliya so they could distribute the aid to the refugees from Myanmar in southeastern Cox's Bazar district, BenarNews, a Radio Free Asia-affiliated online news service reported.

The district's administration hired 150 trucks to transport the aid to refugee camps scattered across Cox's Bazar, a drive of several hours from Chittagong.

"We have the relief materials. These will be distributed among the Rohingya refugees in Teknaf and Ukhia," Ali Hossain, the deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar, said.

Teknaf and Ukhia are sub-districts in Cox's Bazar that house several camps housing registered and unregistered Rohingya refugees.

"We have information that the ship carried 1,472 tons of relief materials, which will be distributed to more than 15,000 Rohingyas," a high-ranking Bangladesh Navy official told BenarNews on condition of anonymity.

At least 66,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh since early October, amid reports that Myanmar security forces have targeted people from the minority community in killings, rapes and other abuses — allegations that the Myanmar government has denied.

"The IOM [International Organization for Migration] is in charge of the relief materials while the Red Crescent Society has been helping the distribution of the materials," said Khurshed Alam, Bangladesh's foreign secretary for maritime affairs, adding district administrators would facilitate the distribution.

Help UCA News to be independent
Dear reader,
Lent is the season during which catechumens make their final preparations to be welcomed into the Church.
Each year during Lent, UCA News presents the stories of people who will join the Church in proclaiming that Jesus Christ is their Lord. The stories of how women and men who will be baptized came to believe in Christ are inspirations for all of us as we prepare to celebrate the Church's chief feast.
Help us with your donations to bring such stories of faith that make a difference in the Church and society.
A small contribution of US$5 will support us continue our mission…
William J. Grimm
Publisher
UCA News
Asian Bishops
Latest News
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia