The Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) and the National Boating Association of Maldives (NBAM) are organizing to provide food for both locals and expatriates who have been taken under state care since the lockdown was declared.

This was revealed through a press release on Thursday, where MATATO and NBAM revealed that this initiative is being carried out in cooperation with the Malé Aerated Water Company (Coca-Cola).

As such, the two associations are taking the initiative to provide food for 500 individuals who have been placed under state care at shelters in capital city Malé and Hulhumalé,

According to the authorities, a total of 96 individuals have been taken into state care, some of them do not have anywhere to go or have been forced to move out of their homes due to failure to pay rent amid the Covid-19 crisis.

Food for these individuals will be arranged by these associations for the next 30 days through Salsa Catering in Malé with work currently underway to select a food establishment in the suburbs.

The statement goes on to read that the associations have been in constant dialogue with relevant authorities regarding the threats posed by the Covid-19 pandemic in order to find solutions together.

The meal packs will be delivered to the individuals accommodated in the temporary shelters with the support from authorities.

The associations are hopeful that other donors will join the scheme and support the cause, reads the statement.

The fasting month of Ramadan will begin this Friday and this year, Ramadan falls during a time the Covid-19 pandemic been sweeping across the globe, infecting and killing thousands.

The Maldives has also been affected by the pandemic, long before the first case emerged on 7 March. The first community transmission was observed on 15 April, following which the government declared a lockdown across the Greater Malé Region, which will be in effect until 30 April. Since then, authorities have been rescuing homeless individuals and placing them in temporary accommodation provided by the Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services.

MATATO and NBAM are local NGOs committed to work towards local empowerment, over the last decade.

They represent the majority of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) of local travel agents and liveaboards that advocate the importance of tourism “for all”, by greater benefit to local communities and businesses.