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Sunday 08 Sep 2024
LOCAL EDITION
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LOCAL EDITION
Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer speaks during the ‘Falastheenaa Eku Dhivehin’ telethon on June 12, 2024. (Photo/President's Office)
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has decided on a tenfold increase in aid to Palestine, as Israeli forces continue its devastating attacks on Gaza.
The decision was announced by Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer on Wednesday morning, during the launch of a nationwide fundraising telethon campaign under the slogan “Falastheenaa Eku Dhivehin,” which translates to “Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine.”
Speaking at the event, Zameer said the government had decided to increase funds sent to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to USD 50,000.
This is ten times higher than the previous USD 5,000 in annual donations.
“Maldives has been donating USD 5,000 annually. But, in light of the Israeli attacks since October 7, we have decided to donate USD 50,000 in aid this year. This is ten times higher than the current figure,” he said.
Zameer said the funds will be sent through the Finance Ministry and Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA), under the supervision of the Foreign Ministry.
Crowe Maldives LLP has been hired as an independent auditor to oversee the process.
Zameer noted that Maldives recently co-sponsored a resolution to support the admission Palestine as a full member state of the UN.
The resolution, presented by the United Arab Emirates on behalf of the Arab Group, was adopted by the UN General Assembly on Monday.
He noted that the Maldives has also consistently supported other resolutions to protect the rights of Palestinians.
The “Falastheenaa Eku Dhivehin” telethon was organized by the PSM, in partnership with local media, including SSTV, at President Muizzu’s request.
The telethon, which began at 08:00 am on Wednesday, will continue until midnight.
Donation boxes have been placed in 13 locations across the Maldivian capital. This includes;
The donation box at TVM will close at 10:00 pm, while the rest will close earlier, at 06:00 pm.
Donations can also be sent via online bank transfers to:
Israel’s current war on Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children. It has also reduced much of the Palestinian territory to rubble, displaced the vast majority of residents, and resulted in widespread malnutrition.
