The government has facilitated the delivery of care packages to Maldivians in the United Emirates, amid the coronavirus crisis.

The foreign ministry said that arrangements have been made to send care packages to Maldivians living in UAE, on the national airline’s cargo flight scheduled for April 17, as they "have been facing difficulties in acquiring some essential items".

Those that wish to send packages are to submit the required form via the ministry’s website, while service is to be provided on a first-come-first-serve basis “as flight can carry a certain amount as cargo". Each family can send a package weighing 15kg.

The packages are to be handed over on April 16, at a special counter near the departure gate at Velana International Airport (VIA), from 9am to 3pm. The packages are to be collected by the Maldives embassy in UAE after customs’ clearance, who will deliver them to the intended recipients.

Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid said that he hopes that that this “will bring temporary relief to the Maldivians remaining in UAE”.

While government-chartered flights are transporting cargo from UAE, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand, similar arrangements were made in the other countries as well.

As such, a cargo flight to Bangkok on April 16 is to carry care packages as well.