Turkish Red Crescent chief visits Rohingya camps in Bangladesh

Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) President Prof. Dr. Fatma Meriç Yılmaz traveled to Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, to inspect humanitarian operations for Rohingya (Arakan) refugees. She reviewed food distribution, health services, education, water‑sanitation and livelihood projects that Kızılay has delivered to over 3.5 million people in Bangladesh since 1999.

During the visit Yılmaz met Bangladesh’s Deputy Foreign Minister Shama Obaed Islam, Turkish Ambassador to Dhaka Ramis Şen, and senior officials of the Bangladesh Red Crescent, IFRC and other aid partners. The parties discussed the ongoing needs of the refugee population, now entering the ninth year of the crisis, and the impact of decreasing international funding on food, health, education and protection services.

The leaders signed a cooperation agreement for the “Green Cash Ready” digital cash‑assistance project to expand electronic cash support for refugees. Yılmaz also highlighted education and skills‑training initiatives run by Kızılay’s vocational centres, TİKA multi‑purpose education centre and the Turkish Religious Foundation’s courses, stressing their role in helping displaced people rebuild their lives.