Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) has launched a humanitarian aid mission in support of Rohingya refugee families.

The campaign commenced with the distribution of garments, dry food packages, and blankets to more than 3,000 Rohingya families in Bahukhali Bazar in Bangladesh.

The initiative is funded by the generous miles donations of Etihad Guest members, in addition to donations made at various Abu Dhabi-based sporting and social events, as well as the electronic Dirham initiative.

The mission also included humanitarian aid distribution at a hospital jointly operated by Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In recent months, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled violence to Cox's Bazaar - a district in Bangladesh. The vast majority are women and children, including new-born babies.

Many refugees experience extreme trauma from attacks and difficult journey to the Bangladeshi border. They arrive hungry, in poor condition and in desperate need of life-saving support.

Implemented via an agreement between EAG and the UAE Embassy in Bangladesh, this humanitarian mission was undertaken in cooperation with the Emirates Red Crescent and the Bangladeshi Red Crescent.

The UAE government has already pledged US$7 million in support of the Rohingya community.

In the past five years, EAG has also supported refugees in Greece, Serbia, Lebanon and Jordan.