Gov’t yet to hand over two million cans of tuna donated to Palestine
While it has been nine months since Muizzu assumed office, the aid is yet to be handed over
President Muizzu and Foreign Minister Zameer
The incumbent administration is yet to hand over the two million cans of tuna donated to the bereaved people of Palestine by the former administration of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Former President Solih announced the decision to donate in-kind assistance to the people of Palestine, of two million cans of tuna, on 24 October 2023.
The donation aimed to support the ongoing efforts to provide humanitarian and relief aid to those affected by the ongoing unprovoked air strikes across Gaza Israeli armed forces have been carrying out since October 7.
The former administration noted that the donation would be a symbol of the Maldives’ strongest solidarity with the Palestinian people.
However, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu took over as the eighth president of Maldives, at a time the former administration had already settled the payment to purchase two million cans of tuna, to MIFCO and paid freight charges required to ship the donation.
Since then, there have been reports that the tuna cans were distributed amidst the preparations for the People’s Majlis polls.
While it has been nine months since Muizzu assumed office, the aid is yet to be handed over.
When questioned by RaajjeMV, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that they had to check for an update.
After repeated calls and attempts to get a comment, the ministry finally provided a clarification on Wednesday, noting that the donation has not been sent yet.
The ministry noted that the aid has not been sent due to barriers and challenges in sending the donation to the people of Palestine.
Further, the ministry stated that they are in talks with Palestinian authorities to send the aid to the people of Palestine as soon as possible.
Usually, such assistances and donations are handed over and delivered through the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and authorities have failed to clarify a reason the donation has not reached UNRWA yet.
At a meeting of the Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee held on February 21, then-MDP lawmakers had expressed concern over the delay in providing the aid.
Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer said at the time that efforts had been made to reach out to the Palestinian authorities in consultation with the Egyptian government, but that attempt have been unsuccessful so far.
It has been six months since then and the government continues to give the same indecisive response.
