PMI sends aid to Rohingya, Rakhines refugees in Myanmar

The Myanmarese government has allowed the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), along with other international humanitarian agencies, to send aid for refugees of a deadly conflict between the Rohingyas and Rakhines in the country, PMI stated in a press release issued on Saturday evening.

The aid from the PMI, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) will be distributed by the Myanmar Red Cross, under the supervision of the Myanmar government.

The agreement was announced during a visit to the Thet Kay Pyin refugee camp in Rakhine province on Saturday, which was made by Myanmar’s Border Affairs Minister Thein Htay, PMI chairman Jusuf Kalla, OIC assistant secretary-general Atta El- Mannan and QRCS president Mohamed Gahnim Al Mahdeed.

According to the press release, thousands of refugees live in dense camps with poor sanitation and medical facilities.

As heavy rains hit the site, large numbers of refugees suffered from diarrhea, respiratory infections and cholera.

Despite aid from the three bodies, refugees still face food and medicine shortages.

Kalla urged the Myanmar government to carry out rehabilitation and reconstruction measures in the province within six months.

“[If it passes six months, the province] may face psychology and health problems,” he said in the press release.

Thein said financial limitation had constrained his government from implementing such actions.

“Thus, we are open to aid from international bodies in an effort to solve the matter.”

Htay added that Myanmar has intensified discussions among religious figures in hopes to ease tension between the groups, which has been ongoing since June.

The Muslim Rohingyas have become targets in a sectarian conflict with Buddhist Rakhines. To make things worse, the Myanmarese government does not recognize Rohingya as a minority group in the country. (yps)