The President’s Office has stated over USD 197 million has been collected as foreign aid for the COVID-19 response in the Maldives.
Speaking on a programme aired on PSM News, Policy Secretary of the President’s Office Aminath Shauna said the foreign aid received by the Maldives amid the COVID-19 pandemic includes grants, loans and technical assistance. Shauna said the aid was provided by different countries and international financial organisations. In this regard, she noted the Maldives received aid from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), International Monetary Fund (IMF), OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), European Investment Bank (EIB) and different agencies of the United Nations (UN).
The policy secretary further noted the Maldives received large amounts of medical equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE) and food items as aid from foreign countries and organisations. In this regard, she highlighted the assistance provided by India, China, Japan, US, Bangladesh, Canada, UAE and Australia as well as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the European Union (EU).
Shauna further stated the financial assistance provided by foreign countries and organisations is provided under certain agreements, noting the government can only spend the funds for the purposes stated under the agreement. She said the Maldives has earned a good reputation among the international community for being a responsible nation, since the current government assumed power. She added the government is confident of generating more financial assistance from the international community for the economic recovery efforts of the country.