India hands over 3rd phase humanitarian assistance for Rohingya

India on Monday handed over its third phase of humanitarian assistance to Bangladesh for helping in its efforts to meet the requirements of displaced Rohingyas influx from Myanmar last year.

Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla handed over 1.1 million litres of Super Kerosene Oil (SKO) and 20,000 Kerosene Multi Wick Stoves to Bangladesh’s Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya at Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar, hosted over one million displaced Myanmar nationals.

“India understands the plight of displaced persons and appreciated Bangladesh’s support towards Rohingyas,” an Indian High Commission press release quoted Shringla as saying, reports BSS.

India has always stood by Bangladesh in times of need. It is in this spiritof friendship that New Delhi have come forward to share their burden and will continue to do so, he said.

The Indian envoy informed that India has also started construction of pre-fabricated houses at a village called Kyein Chaung in Maungdaw district in the Rakhine State. “I am happy to inform that we are building 250 houses which are nearing completion,” he added.

These dwellings are intended to be facilitated the return of displaced persons from Bangladesh, he said.

As a neighbour, friend and partner of Bangladesh, Shringla mentioned India has responded promptly to support the Government of Bangladesh in meeting the relief requirements posed by this large influx of displaced persons.

In May 2018, he said the External Affairs Minister of India underscored the need for three Ss – safe, speedy and sustainable return of the displaced persons to Rakhine State.

Recalling the visit of Indian Home Minister to Bangladesh in July 2018, the High Commissioner said he reiterated India’s commitment to help in the return of displaced people to their homes in Myanmar.

“India will continue to extend humanitarian assistance to support the Government of Bangladesh in its efforts to provide assistance to the displaced persons. Our gesture of providing relief will continue beyond the third tranche,” he said.

Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Shah Kamal, Refuge, Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammed Abul Kalam, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Chairman Hafiz Ahmed Majumder and Secretary General Feroz Salauddin Vikram Doraiswami and Indian External Affairs Ministry’s Joint Secretary (Bangladesh, Myanmar) Vikram Doraiswami were present.

In September 2017, the Government of India under ‘Operation Insaniyat’ had extended the first phase of humanitarian assistance while Bangladesh received second phase of assistance from India in May 2018.