March 27, 2018
Since June, 2017, The TK Foundation has been a proud supporter of the not-for-profit organization, Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS).
Originally founded with the purpose of carrying out search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea, MOAS has now relocated to the Bay of Bengal. Operating out of Galle, Sri Lanka, last year the MOAS vessel Phoenix ran twice-monthly aid deliveries to Chittagong, Bangladesh.
The United Nations has labelled the Rohingya people “the most persecuted minority in the world”. Persistent persecution and escalating violence saw families and children fleeing Myanmar to safety in neighboring Bangladesh, where MOAS’ team of doctors and paramedics work in refugee camps.
Distributing aid and providing urgent medical care has seen MOAS play an important role in saving numerous Rohingya refugees and supporting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.
Specifically, The TK Foundation has allocated a grant to MOAS in order to fund food and aid deliveries to Chittagong, Bangladesh.
In November 2017, The Phoenix completed its second aid delivery to Bangladesh. The vessel transported 20 tons of oil, salt, sugar, rice and lentils to the Port of Chittagong. This video shows Phoenix’s arrival in port: https://youtu.be/ng_9b5UmybY
At present, MOAS continues to provide medical care and assistance to Rohingya refugees in camps near the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar. To learn more about MOAS, please visit https://www.moas.eu/.
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The TK Foundation is a private independent foundation named for J. Torben Karlshoej who founded Teekay Shipping Company, now Teekay Corporation. The TK Foundation’s mission is to fulfill the legacy of J. Torben Karlshoej by enabling disadvantaged youth to succeed and promoting maritime education and safety.