Turkish first lady, FM visit Rohingya camps today

Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan, wife of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the country’s foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will visit the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazaar today. The Rohingyas who fled Myanmar are being sheltered in those camps.

Emine Erdogan arrived in Dhaka with a 40-member delegation yesterday midnight, a high-ranking official of the foreign ministry told The Independent. Cavusoglu arrived in Bangladesh with a seven-member delegation to discuss the Rohingya issue.

“The Turkish first lady and foreign minister will visit different Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar today,” the official said. Bangladesh foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali will accompany the duo on their visit to Cox’s Bazar, he added.

“It's not possible to arrange a meeting between the Turkish first lady and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. But we're trying to arrange a meeting between the Turkish foreign minister and the PM on Thursday,” the official said.

He also said Emine Erdogan will talk to the Rohingyas who are staying in the different temporary camps in Cox’s Bazaar and may give them some relief assistance. “We're expecting the government to urge the Turkish first lady and foreign minister to put pressure on the Myanmar government, which killed thousands of Rohingyas and forced them to leave their native country,” he added.

“After visiting Cox’s Bazar, the Turkish first lady and foreign minister will leave Dhaka on Thursday on separate flights,” the official said.

Following Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s discussion on Tuesday regarding the Rohingya crisis, Turkey has been permitted to send 1,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid for Rohingyas. The Turkish aid agency TIKA will enter the region to deliver the aid.

The United Nations (UN) yesterday estimated that nearly 146,000 Rohingya have crossed the border into Bangladesh since August 25 and tens of thousands more have been internally displaced. The Myanmar administration has not allowed foreign organisations to enter the region. Thus, the death count is indeterminable.

According to Turkish media, Cavusoglu spoke to Bangladesh foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali over phone on September 4 in a bid to find a solution to the ongoing tragedy of the Rohingyas.

Cavusoglu’s talk with Ali came as part of Turkey’s week-long efforts to find a safe haven for the Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh, with the Turkish government offering to provide financial assistance to the Bangladesh government.

President Erdogan has already described the killings of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar as ‘genocide’. He launched a massive diplomatic campaign to draw attention to the continued violence against the Rohingya Muslims. He has held telephonic conversations with more than 20 world leaders so far, including UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres.

 

Turkish first lady, FM visit Rohingya camps today

Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan, wife of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the countrys foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will visit the Rohingya camps in Coxs Bazaar today. The Rohingyas who fled Myanmar are being sheltered in those camps. Emine Erdogan arrived in Dhaka with a 40-member delegation yesterday midnight, a high-ranking official of the foreign ministry told The Independent. Cavusoglu arrived in Bangladesh with a seven-member delegation to discuss the Rohingya issue. The Turkish first lady and foreign minister will visit different Rohingya camps in Coxs Bazar today, the official said. Bangladesh foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali will accompany the duo on their visit to Coxs Bazar, he added. Its not possible to arrange a meeting between the Turkish first lady and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. But were trying to arrange a meeting between the Turkish foreign minister and the PM on Thursday, the official said. He also said Emine Erdogan will talk to the Rohingyas who are staying in the different temporary camps in Coxs Bazaar and may give them some relief assistance. Were expecting the government to urge the Turkish first lady and foreign minister to put pressure on the Myanmar government, which killed thousands of Rohingyas and forced them to leave their native country, he added. After visiting Coxs Bazar, the Turkish first lady and foreign minister will leave Dhaka on Thursday on separate flights, the official said. Following Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyis discussion on Tuesday regarding the Rohingya crisis, Turkey has been permitted to send 1,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid for Rohingyas. The Turkish aid agency TIKA will enter the region to deliver the aid. The United Nations (UN) yesterday estimated that nearly 146,000 Rohingya have crossed the border into Bangladesh since August 25 and tens of thousands more have been internally displaced. The Myanmar administration has not allowed foreign organisations to enter the region. Thus, the death count is indeterminable. According to Turkish media, Cavusoglu spoke to Bangladesh foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali over phone on September 4 in a bid to find a solution to the ongoing tragedy of the Rohingyas. Cavusoglus talk with Ali came as part of Turkeys week-long efforts to find a safe haven for the Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh, with the Turkish government offering to provide financial assistance to the Bangladesh government. President Erdogan has already described the killings of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar as genocide. He launched a massive diplomatic campaign to draw attention to the continued violence against the Rohingya Muslims. He has held telephonic conversations with more than 20 world leaders so far, including UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres.