Food flotilla to head to Rakhine state by Feb 3

KLANG: The ‘Food Flotilla For Myanmar’ carrying humanitarian aid for ethnic Rohingyas in northern Rakhine state, will leave Port Klang no later than Feb 3.

Its mission chief, Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim said the vessel, Nautical Aliya, would carry 200 activists from eight countries, as well as 1,000 tonnes of food and medicines to the region.

“The Myanmar government does not turn down our application (to send food aid). We’re still waiting for approval from Myanmar (for distribution of aid)...we will leave on Feb 3,” he told reporters after visiting the flotilla mission’s collection centre for goods at Nurul Amin Mosque in Kampung Delek, here, yesterday.

Also present were Malaysian Islamic Organisations Consultative Council ( MAPIM) president, Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid and a representative of Turkish non- governmental organisation, Turkiye Diyanet Vakfi ( TDV), Taskin Bumin Ayranci.

The flotilla mission is organised by 1Malaysia Putera Club ( KP1M) and MAPIM with the cooperation of TDV.

Abdul Azeez, who is also KP1M president, said the mission would send its two pioneer teams to Myanmar and Bangladesh soon to facilitate the logistical aspects as part of its early preparations.

The team would return home on Jan 20, he said. Abdul Azeez said they would collaborate with the International Organisation for Migration in Bangladesh to manage the humanitarian mission in Teknaf, Bangladesh.

“We understand that there are 60,000 Rohingya migrants in Teknaf.

“This humanitarian aid is not only meant for the Rohingya Muslims but also for those from other ethnic groups affected by the conflict,” he said, adding that the mission still needed at least 300 tonnes more of rice. — Bernama