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Expatriates in congested living conditions to be relocated

Ahmed Aiham
12 April 2020, MVT 15:14
Undocumented expatriate workers photographed at the Galolhu National Stadium, participating in government's programme to re-register. PHOTO: HUSSAIN WAHEED / MIHAARU
Ahmed Aiham
12 April 2020, MVT 15:14

In a joint operation by the government, Maldives began relocating expatriate workers in congested living conditions across capital city Male', in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Male' City Council in collaboration with Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and Maldives Immigration, transferred 200 migrant workers into living facilities in reclaimed suburb Hulhumale' on Sunday.

According to Immigration Spokesperson Hassan Haleel, expenses for the workers will be borne by the state and managed by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), adding that the facility has a capacity to house 1000 individuals, while maintaining social distancing guidelines.

In addition to accommodation in Hulhumale', the government revealed plans to establish facilities in industrial island Gulhifalhu, Kaafu Atoll.

Haleel further stated that the government aims to relocate approximately 1500 expatriates as part of the operation.

As many expatriates live in small, unhygienic and congested spaces, particularly in capital Male' City, officials have expressed concern that a local COVID-19 outbreak would put these workers at the highest risk of contracting and spreading the infection.

Male' City Council commenced an assessment of the residences and living conditions of expatriates in the capital city in March. According to the council, its purpose was to identify the number of expatriates living in each dwelling so as to ensure that efficient protective measures are in place should an expatriate test positive for the virus. However, authorities are yet to publicise the findings of the survey.

Bangladeshi nationals make up the majority of the expatriate population in Maldives, which numbers at over 144,600. Authorities earlier estimated that 63,000 of the expatriate population are undocumented, out of which 40,000 had registered into the government since September 2019.

Furthermore, Minister of Economic Affairs Fayyaz revealed that a total of 837 undocumented workers had submitted requests for repatriation after the government opened for registration on March 21.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid also requested the government of Bangladesh to help repatriate undocumented workers from the country.

Maldives now has 20 confirmed and seven active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 13 recoveries.

The World Health Organization has classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. The novel coronavirus has infected over 1.78 million people and claimed over 108,800 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 404,500 people have recovered.

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