Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu has reaffirmed his country’s continued support to Rohingyas and their host community in Bangladesh, noting that Bangladesh is not alone while dealing with the crisis.
The visiting Turkish minister along with State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman on Saturday reopened a Turkish field hospital at the Rohingya camp which was damaged by a fire last year.
The hospital, after being destroyed in the fire, was reconstructed by the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) following the instruction of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“We couldn't leave these sad, oppressed people alone as well as Bangladesh, which is home to these people,” said the Turkish Minister, mentioning that Turkey took steps immediately to address the damage caused by the fire.
The hospital carries out 20 operations and examines 2,000 people, said the Turkish Interior Minister, adding that 700,000 treatments have been done in the hospital so far.
Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan was also present during the brief visit to Cox’s Bazar.
Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar district and Bhasan Char Island, while Turkey is also hosting over 4 million refugees.
Earlier, the Turkish Ambassador, at a programme, said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has earned the title of 'Mother of Humanity' by doing exactly the same what Turkey did, opening the door of Bangladesh to the Rohingya people who were fleeing persecution and execution in their homeland.
"So, Bangladesh and Turkey have a lot to offer in this field to be examples to the rest of the world,” he said.
