An additional 200 undocumented Bangladeshi workers have been repatriated from the Maldives.
The national airline, Maldivian, operated a repatriation flight to Dhaka, Bangladesh on June 5, carrying a total of 200 undocumented workers. They were repatriated as part of the joint efforts of the governments of the Maldives and Bangladesh to repatriate undocumented Bangladeshi workers in the Maldives amid the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, over 1,600 Bangladeshi workers have been repatriated from the Maldives.
In addition to undocumented expatriates, the government is also working on repatriating documented expatriates upon their request. As such, over 300 expatriates who were working in the Maldives legally have also been repatriated.
The government recently announced efforts to repatriate over 5,000 undocumented expatriates within 3 months. The repatriation efforts began in order to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission, which is especially high among expatriate workers living in congested spaces.
Meanwhile, Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC) is conducting an aid programme to assist expatriates in need amid the COVID-19 pandemic. MRC is providing food and other essential items to expatriates in need, with the help of donations to the Migrant Relief Fund.