Australia has donated a total of MVR nine million to the Maldives to help in recovery efforts since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Australian governmen on Tuesday gifted 3.5 tonnes of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Maldives.

Australian High Commission to Maldives via Twitter said this with this donation, the Australian government's support to the Maldives since the pandemic now totals MVR nine million (AUD 780,000).

This not only includes donations of PPE, but also capacity building for frontline workers and support for women and girls.

In a tweet posted after the donation, Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid expressed gratitude for the continued support from Australia to combat the pandemic.

He added that the additional 3.5 tonnes donated on Tuesday will enhance the country's "capacity to identify and prevent the spread of virus".

Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid shared his gratitude towards Australia for encouraging Maldives to take control over the Covid-19 situation and build the nation into something better than it once was.

The Australian High Commission to Maldives made its first PPE donation last July, while the government of Australia signed an USD 300,000 grant agreement with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to support the Maldivian government’s Covid-19 response efforts in August 2020.

Maldives has been receiving numerous donations in support of their frontline Covid-19 response efforts from foreign countries, since the battle against the pandemic began in the island nation in March 2020.