Maldives to donate over USD 1.29 million in aid to Palestine

Maldives has pledged to donate over USD 1.29 million (MVR 19.8 million) as humanitarian aid for Palestine.

During the United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Pledging Conference, held today at the UN Headquarters, Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Dr Ali Naseer Mohamed announced that Maldives had pledged a contribution of over USD 1.29 million to Palestine through UNRWA.

Naseer also declared at the conference that the Maldivian government has increased its annual donation of USD 5000 to Palestine cause by ten-fold, to USD 50,000 this year. Moreover, the MVR 18.4 million and USD 49,000 raised during the 'Palestine Aa Eku Dhivehin' [Maldivians with Palestine] telethon held by State media, PSM News under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's initiative on June 12 will also be handed over to the Palestinian people through UNRWA, added Naseer.

The Representative also highlighted UNRWA's important efforts to provide crucial emergency services and assistance to Palestine, particularly those living in Gaza who are in dire need of humanitarian aid. He also called on the international community to increase their financial assistance and fulfil political obligations to progress the initiative.

Israel's relentless airstrikes and ground attacks begun in response to an incursion on Israel carried out by Hamas fighters on October 7 had killed over 38,000 Palestinians, demolished entire areas to rubble with 2.4 million Palestinians struggling to find shelter, sustenance and safety.

Although the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to employ measures to prevent a genocide in a ruling on May 24, concluding that Palestinians in Gaza are faced with a plausible risk to their rights of being protected from a genocide, Israel remains yet to concede to the order. Israel also remains yet to heed calls from the UN and several nations on ending its offensive in Palestine.