The Government of Japan has extended a MVR 9 million grant to the Maldives through UNICEF and Maldives Red Crescent.
The assistance includes a grant of MVR 5,495,688 (USD 356,400) for UNICEF and MVR 2,852,700 (USD 185,000) for Maldives Red Crescent to assist the Government of Maldives in its efforts to respond to COVID-19.
The grant will be utilized for procurement of medical equipment and consumables, and for providing technical assistance for the installation of new communications systems in various schools for online teaching programs and tele-classes.
The Government of Maldives has expressed its appreciation to the Government and people of Japan for the timely assistance provided to the Maldives. This assistance will go a long way in complementing the existing efforts by the Government in combatting COVID-19, said the Foreign Ministry.
Japan has been the most important bilateral development partner of the Maldives for several decades. It has helped the Maldives in education, infrastructure development, and climate change adaptation projects including the construction of the sea-wall around Male’. Japan was among the first countries to provide financial assistance to the Maldives in the immediate aftermath of 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
