The government has delivered all the care packages to Maldivians stuck in Trivandrum and Cochin, India, amid the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis.

Authorities facilitated the delivery of care packages to Maldivians in India, via a repatriation flight on 11 April and families that wished to send these packages had to submit forms to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This was facilitated due to the many concerns risen by Maldivians stranded abroad, due to the difficulty in acquiring essential items.

A total of 79 packages were sent to Trivandrum and 65 were delivered to families in Cochin.

The ministry revealed that the packages were delivered to Cochin after acquiring the required permit from Trivandrum and that the Maldives Consulate General in the city has now delivered all the packages to Cochin as well.

As Kerala state is under lockdown, the authorities required a special permit to deliver care packages to those in Trivandrum as well.

The government has also delivered care packages to Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

The government has facilitated the delivery of care packages to Maldivians stuck in the United Arab Emirates and Thailand as well.

The country’s national airline, Maldivian, has also been evacuating Maldivians stranded in foreign countries. As such, over 1,000 Maldivians have been evacuated from regions including India, Sri Lanka as well as Malaysia.

All arrivals are being quarantined in government designated places, and will be released after being tested for the disease.