Yangon – The world’s biggest Islamic organisation has signed an agreement with Myanmar regarding humanitarian aid to Rakhine State, the site of recent conflicts between minority Muslims and the local population, state-run media reported Wednesday.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation signed the deal to provide shelter and food to “local nationals and Bengalis regardless of race,” the New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported.

Since 1982, the Myanmar government has classified an estimated 750,000 Rohingyas living in its western state of Rakhine as stateless Bengali Muslims from neighbouring Bangladesh.

In June, a mob of ethnic Rakhine Buddhists killed 10 of the Rohingyas in revenge for the alleged rape and murder of a Rakhine woman by three Rohingyas.

The incident sparked a wave of communal clashes that left up to 80 dead and hundreds of houses burned.

There are an estimated 30,000 Rohingyas already living in UNHCR camps in neighbouring Bangladesh, fleeing persecution in Myanmar.

Link: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Islamic-organisation-to-send-aid-to-Myanmars-Rohin-30190255.html?