Neighboring India has been a “true friend” to the Maldives during the Covid-19 crisis, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, a while after the Indian government’s consignment of food supply to the Maldives as part of it ongoing assistance to island nations in their response efforts against Covid-19 was received, the president noted that the donation is particularly helpful during these challenging times.

He went on to express gratitude to the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and the people of India for their generosity and friendship.

Maldives was the first destination the Indian government delivered its food aid to under “Mission SAGAR”, where Indian Navy ship, INS Kesari entered the Malé port carrying 580 tonnes of essential food items on Tuesday morning.

HCI Maldives earlier revealed that the food aid “is part of India’s Security and Growth for All (SAGAR) doctrine of the government of India”.

HCI Maldives also revealed that the food aid is “a token of friendship from the people of India to the people of Maldives during the holy month of Ramadan”, noting that both countries have supported regional strategy to tackle the pandemic.

The consignment is followed by a telephone conversation between President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 20.

The consignment includes 200 tonnes of parboiled rice, 140 tonnes of wheat flour, 90 tonnes of sugar, 120 tonnes of yellow dhal and 26 tonnes of onions.

From the beginning, India has been assisting the Maldives Covid-19 response efforts in various ways. This included having evacuated Maldivians stranded in Wuhan, sending consignments of medical supplies as well as a team of medical experts. The Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives, Sunjay Sudhir had also noted that Maldives is the first country to receive Indian assistance due to the pandemic.