The Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisation (Mapim) urges the special meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Foreign Ministers due to be held on Jan 19, 2017 to issue a statement to endorse and support the NGO-initiated Food Flotilla for Myanmar.

The meeting should seriously consider the importance of this endeavour by supporting and facilitating the flotilla in the context of an international obligation for Myanmar to heed the urging to stop the oppressive policy inflicted against the Rohingya minority ethnic.

The flotilla is indeed a show of international solidarity for humanity. It represent the voice of the world to put peace as the top agenda in any multilateral or bilateral relations amongst nations.

The thousands of Rohingyas facing harsh realities in Myanmar and living in squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh could barely survive on a daily basis. Their suffering is compounded by forced eviction, killings, rape, arbitrary arrest, arson and denial of socio-economic rights. These are too glaring to be ignored in the eyes of the world.

The OIC should shoulder the duty of finding ways to ease the sufferings of the Rohingya minority who has been persecuted for too long.

The flotilla is a collective humanitarian effort galvanised to include participation from all levels of the people from different countries.

Its aim is to deliver humanitarian aid and to solicit world attention to focus on the plight of the Rohingya.

It is scheduled to depart from Port Klang in Malaysia on Feb 3, 2017 for an estimated 20-day mission, seeking to be granted access from the Myanmar authority to land and distribute 1,500 tonnes of aid to the affected area in Maungdaw, north of Rakhine state (Arakan).

This is an landmark effort by people at every level from different countries, volunteering and contributing in many ways - time, labour, cash and items in kind, to deliver aid to their fellow brothers and sisters in Myanmar.

OIC should try its level best, as the second largest international world organisation after the UN, to prevail on its members that failing to find an amicable solution to the sufferings of the Rohingya will be a disgrace.

We reiterate that the OIC should give its undivided support for the success of the flotilla and to assist in anyway possible to chart a long term strategy to rehabilitate the Rohingya victims and to work closely with the Asean member states on the issue of the Rohingya.

MOHD AZMI ABDUL HAMID is president, Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisation (Mapim).