The Maldives' has pledged USD 200,000 to SAARC's Emergency Relief Fund for efforts against the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
While India has pledged USD ten million to the initiative taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Maldives is the second nation to join this initiative with Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid announcing the country's decision to donate USD 200,000 "to address issues emanating from Covid-19".
The proposal for the emergency fund was presented to the leadership of SAARC nations by PM Modi during the SAARC leaders' video-conference held on March 15th.
This could be based on voluntary contributions from all of us. India can start with an initial offer of $10 million for this fund. Any of us can use the fund to meet the cost of immediate actions. Our foreign secretaries, through our embassies, can coordinate quickly to finalize the concept of this fund and its operations.India's PM Narendra Modi
PM Modi has since thanked the Maldives, tweeting "deeply appreciate contribution of USD 200,000 by Government of Maldives to the Covid-19 Emergency Fund. It strengthens our resolve in this collective fight against the pandemic".
