The State Trading Organization (STO) has said that there are enough staple food and medical supplies.
The organization said that in a news conference held Thursday to provide information on the precautionary measures for Covid-19 that is escalating across the globe.
In the news conference, Managing Director of STO, Hussain Amru Mohamed Rashad said there are sufficient staple food and medical supplies and urged not to spread false rumours that will panic the public. He said there is no need to worry about not having enough supply as it will be available from STO.
Amru said the consumption of food supplies have not increased owing to Covid-19 however, due to the spread of false rumours on social media last week, it did increase in the previous two or three days.
He said that the Maldives has not reached a situation that requires food to be stocked in each household.
“We have sufficient staple food and medical supplies for the public. However, we are in the process of purchasing additional stocks of these items. Fear-mongering the public, saying that there are not enough supplies of food and medicines in the Maldives will lead to deprivation for all. The Maldives has not fallen into a situation that needs a staple food store in each household”, said Amru.
Amru’s statement seems to be in response to Maduvvaree MP and Vice President of the opposition, Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM), Adam Shareef Umar's call to prepare for Covid-19, better purchase sufficient staple food supplies to the Maldives.
Amru said everyone should be aware that Covid-19 will reach the Maldives eventually, as such STO is prepared and have stocked sufficient food supplies.
He said even if the Maldives is affected with Covid-19, STO will carry on its task of supplying food for all the islands of the Maldives.
Amru further said they have sufficient stock of masks and sanitisers however, purchasing masks and sanitisers in bulk when there is no medical condition will have a detrimental effect on all. He advised the public to follow the instructions of health authorizes.
Amru urged not to sell sanitisers and masks at prohibitively higher prices after purchasing those items from STO at cheaper prices. He said such actions at this time will lead to a detrimental effect on all.
