14 Rohingya journalists being trained in Turkey

A group of 14 Rohingya journalists are being trained by Turkey's state broadcaster TRT with the cooperation of Arakan Platform and Turkish Foreign Ministry.

The media training -- which started on Monday -- will last for two weeks for the Rohingya journalists, who actively work in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Germany and the U.S.

On Tuesday, the journalists attended an event, which aims to highlight the persecution of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar's western Rakhine state.

Yusuf Balci, the head of the Turkish-based Arakan Platform said that the platform was formed on voluntary basis after talks with European Rohingya Council (ERC).

"Basic needs such as education, health and humanitarian resources are important for Muslims of Rakhine [Rohingya]. Their unity is important. I hope the training will go well and it will pave the way for good results," Balci said during the event.

Dr. Wakar Uddin, the head of Arakan Rohingya Union, said: "There are around two million Rohingya around the world and it is really hard to bring them together.

"At the end of the training, the participants will not only obtain TRT's media information. They will also obtain information on how to bring the Rohingya community together."

The participants thanked TRT and Turkish government for providing an opportunity to get training and expressed gratitude to Anadolu Agency for covering the plight of Rohingya.

More than 650,000 refugees, mostly children and women, have fled Myanmar since Aug. 25, 2017 when Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community, according to the UN.

At least 9,000 Rohingya were killed in Rakhine state from Aug. 25 to Sept. 24, according to Doctors Without Borders.

In a report published on Dec. 12, 2017, the global humanitarian organization said the deaths of 71.7 percent or 6,700 Rohingya were caused by violence. They include 730 children below the age of 5.

The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.

The UN has documented mass gang rapes, killings -- including of infants and young children -- brutal beatings and disappearances committed by security personnel. In a report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.