A total of 87 homeless individuals have been provided temporary shelter, after being discovered on the streets during ongoing lockdown imposed by the government.

Speaking at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC)’s press briefing on Tuesday, Covid-19 spokesperson Mohamed Mabrook Aziz revealed that a total of 87 homeless individuals have been provided temporary accommodation, food and medicines.

25 out of the 87 are drug users, said Mabrook, adding that they are being rehabilitated.

This is a joint effort by the Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services and the Malé City Council.

Earlier, the Maldives Police Service (MPS) revealed that some of the individuals taken into police custody for violating the lockdown, were homeless individuals.

This comes at a time the issue of lessors kicking individuals out for not being able to pay rent during a time the country is facing the Covid-19 crisis, had been snowballing. It is notable that some lessors have relieved rent during these days and some are providing accommodation for those in need, free of charge as well.

The lockdown was announced on Wednesday following the discovery of the first community transmission case from a house in the capital, it has since been extended until 30 April.