Rohingya refugees eager to meet Turkish premier

As Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim’s is all set to visit refugee camps in Bangladesh on Wednesday, Rohingya refugees hoped for establishing a secure atmosphere for their return to Myanmar.

The refugees thanked Turkey for its enormous efforts in a bid to resolve the crisis and humanitarian support to the vulnerable Muslim minority fleeing state persecution in Myanmar's western Rakhine state.

Turkish Prime Minister Yildirim, who is currently in Bangladesh, will visit Mainnerghona camp, around 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the southeastern Cox's Bazar, on Wednesday to observe the humanitarian activities carried out by Turkish non-governmental organizations.

He will distribute humanitarian aid to the refugees and listen to their problems.

Abdul Hakim, a Rohingya refugee living in the camp operated by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), told Anadolu Agency that they have got food and safety in the camps due to Turkey's support.

“As Rohingya people, we thank Turkey, its president and people for their support,” he said.

Hakim, 70, said they were in good economic condition in Myanmar but after the persecution by the country’s military they had to leave everything to save their lives.

"I had 40 cows and over 15,000 acres of lands. But they had captured everything we had. They burnt our villages, mosques and schools," he said.

He noted that only 20 of 800 houses in their village were left livable when they fled Bangladesh four months ago.

Hakim said that Wednesday's visit of Turkish prime minister will make the refugees “very happy”.

"I thank Allah, I thank Turkish prime minister. This is a big thing that he will come to visit us to see our condition, he said.

“I want Turkish prime minister to focus on our issue. We want our dignity and safety in Myanmar. The Myanmar government should give us the national ID card, and all rights like other citizens. We want a secured environment to go back.”

- 'Leader of Muslim world'

Hakim said he has heard that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is known as a “leader of Muslim world".

"I never saw him, just heard about him. I want him to visit us and give us a solution."

"I pray for Turkey and its leadership. I hope that Turkey will not help only the Rohingya people but all needy Muslims across the world."

Abdur Rahman, another Rohingya refugee living in the camp, said they want to go home and called on the international community to ensure their security in the Rakhine state.

"If the situation is not changed there we cannot go back because they will kill us," he said.

Rahman said if Myanmar does not agree to accept them as its citizens "then send us to any country, where we can live with dignity and basic rights".

During his visit to Cox's Bazar, Prime Minister Yildirim will also visit an under-construction Sahra Hospital and donate two ambulances to the hospital.

Besides TIKA, Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), Turkish Red Crescent and the Directorate of Turkey's Religious Affairs have been operating the humanitarian relief work in the region.

Since Aug. 25, over 626,000 Rohingya have crossed from Myanmar's western state of Rakhine into Bangladesh, according to the UN.

The refugees are fleeing a military operation in which security forces and Buddhist mobs have killed men, women and children, looted homes and torched Rohingya villages.

Turkey has been at the forefront of providing aid to Rohingya refugees and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has raised the issue at the UN.

The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.