WHO to help Turkey's Rohingya aid effort, says minister

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Recep Akdağ says Turkey 'determined' to support Rohingya fleeing violence in Myanmar

A senior Turkish minister has said the World Health Organization (WHO) will assist Turkey's humanitarian efforts in the Rohingya crisis.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency in the Hungarian capital Budapest, Deputy Prime Minister Recep Akdağ said he had asked WHO General Director Tedros Adhanom for their support in facilitating Turkey's plans to set up shelters and camps for Rohingya refugees inside Myanmar and Bangladesh.

"He [Adhanom] said he would give this support. We will do our service," Akdağ said.

Turkish aid agencies on Monday launched a nationwide aid campaign for Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state.

Akdağ said that a number of institutions -- including the Turkish Red Crescent, the Religious Affairs Directorate, and the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) -- are involved in the major campaign.

"Turkey is determined to build temporary shelters and camps to support the children, women, elderly and families in the area," he said on Tuesday.

People in Turkey wanting to donate 10 Turkish liras (approx. $3) can do so by sending an SMS with the word "ARAKAN" (meaning Rakhine) to 2868 or else through bank transfers.

Since Aug. 25, more than 370,000 Rohingya have crossed from Myanmar's western state of Rakhine into Bangladesh, according to the UN.