Food Flotilla for Myanmar: Hike in operational costs due to last minute changes

The Food Flotilla for Myanmar is faced with multiple challenges since it started sailing last Friday causing an increase in its operational cost.

Head of the mission, Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim said the costs incurred encompassed daily operations and the last minute change to dock.

“Yes, the operational cost has increased since the number of days has risen.

“But, we are prepared as a mission of such nature, you have to expect the unexpected,” said Abdul Azeez at a Press conference onboard the Nautical Aliya today.

LIVE UPDATE: Food Flotilla For Myanmar

Nautical Aliya is currently sailing in the Andaman Sea and is expected to enter Myanmar waters early Tuesday.

The vessel is expected to arrive in Yangon at 10.30am local time (approximately 12.15pm Malaysian time) to unload the items including food, medicine, daily necessities and clothing for the refugees living around the port.

Nautical Aliya is expected to set sail to Chittagong for three days.

The flotilla, carrying 2,200 tonnes of food and medicines, departed Port Klang yesterday for Yangon to unload supplies for the Rohingya in Myanmar and would subsequently proceed to Teknaf.

The Foreign Ministry said the Bangladesh approval was received following a meeting between Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Md Shahidul Islam

The 'Food Flotilla for Myanmar' is organised by the Putera 1Malaysia Club and Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations (MAPIM) in collaboration with the Turkiye Diyanet Vakfi (TDV) Foundation of Turkey.

The flotilla was flagged off by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday and is expected to arrive in Yangon on Feb 7 or 8.

Some 230 volunteers from 13 countries, among them medical teams, teaching staff, local and international media practitioners and representatives of local and foreign NGOs, are in the mission..