[Bangladesh] - 'I understand how it feels to lose whatever': Rohingya refugees send aid to Turkey

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
With little to spare themselves, Rohingya refugees are amongst those in Bangladesh sending out cash, blankets and clothes to earthquake
survivors in Turkey and Syria.The pictures of ruined homes and grieving families resonated with Rohingya expelled by the Myanmar armed
force, triggering online organisation and volunteers strolling through the large refugee camps in Bangladesh collecting donations.Reports
have actually emerged of people offering their last piece of gold or donating what little cash they could, as Rohingya have actually rallied
together and bought about 700 blankets and 200 jackets which will be delivered by Turkish development agency, Tika
When we saw the households being saved from the debris, parents who lost their loved ones, little children who lost their parents,
individuals having a hard time for food and shelter, we felt the same discomfort as our own situation in 2017 after our houses were burnt by
the Myanmar military, stated Sahat Zia Hero, a Rohingya professional photographer and activist, who assisted organise the donations
We felt that it was a call for us to show our solidarity towards our brothers and sisters in Turkey and Syria and to share their discomfort
with us
He said many remembered that Turkish charities were some of the first to help the Rohingya as they ran away the massacres in 2017
Near a million Rohingya now live in Bangladesh, in the worlds biggest refugee settlement, where they are not able to work or take a trip
Many were unable to bring much of their possessions from Myanmar; those who did mainly needed to provide to boatmen in exchange for
assistance crossing the border.Amina Khatoun, with some of the help she bought by trading in a gold bracelet, kept for household emergency
situations
Photo: Ali JoharAmina Khatoun, 56, did have something to sell-- a gold bracelet kept for emergencies
The cash raised bought boxes of food, clothing, blankets and child food.She resides in India, having actually left violence in Myanmar
In 2018 she lost her shelter in New Delhi to a fire that razed an entire Rohingya refugee settlement, but the images of the earthquake moved
her
I understand how it feels to lose whatever
The people of Turkey stood with us whenever we dealt with an emergency situation; Turkey has actually constructed medical facilities in the
Bangladesh refugee camps, she said.Her child, Ali Johar, a Rohingya activist, tweeted about his moms choice since he thought it was
motivating and may encourage other Rohingya to donate.Åževki Mert BariÅŸ, Tikas Bangladesh organizer, said: We are very pleased to see
the Bangladeshi peoples unfaltering support for us throughout this enormous crisis, and its a great enjoyment to see the donations from the
Rohingya refugees
Baris stated as much as eight tons of catastrophe relief is being sent from Bangladesh to Turkey together with groups to assist with the
rescue efforts.The death toll from last weeks Turkey-Syria earthquakes is nearing 42,000
Turkish authorities say 36,187 people have been eliminated in the country
The Syrian federal government and the UN say more than 5,800 people have actually died in Syria
This post first appeared/also appeared in theguardian.com