India handed over the fifth tranche of humanitarian assistance consisting of sewing machines, office tents, rescue kits, etc for the displaced persons from Rakhine province of Myanmar to Bangladesh today. High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das handed over the relief material to Bangladesh State Minister for Disaster Management Enamur Rahman in Cox Bazar on Thursday.
According to a press release issued by the High Commission of India in Bangladesh, 1000 sewing machines with pedal, 32 office tents, 32 rescue kits and 99 family tents have been provided to the government of Bangladesh for distribution among the displaced people from Rakhine now sheltering in Bangladesh.
The relief assistance is part of the commitment made by India during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh in October last year.
The press release said that the supplies are intended to support the Government of Bangladesh’s humanitarian efforts to shelter the displaced persons from Myanmar in temporary camps in Cox’s Bazar. It will assist in skill development of forcibly displaced women from Myanmar and also to tide over the unforeseen natural calamities in the camps.
Starting 2017, India has provided four tranches of humanitarian aid to the displaced persons living in refugee camps in Bangladesh.
In September 2017, it provided 981 metric tonnes of relief supplies followed by 373 metric tonnes of supplies in May 2018 containing milk powder, dried fish, baby food, rain coats and gum boots.
In September 2018 it provided 1.1 million litres of super kerosene oil as relief material. In December 2018 India delivered 2.25 lakh blankets and 2 lakh sweaters for the displaced persons.
According to UNHCR, Bangladesh has more than 9 lakh Rohingya refugees out of which close to 7 lakh 50 thousand refugees arrived after August 2017 fleeing Rakhine province of Myanmar amid violence and military crackdown. Bangladesh claims to have 11 lakh Rohingya refugees in the country.