The Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC)'s Migrants Relief Fund has received over MVR 800,000.

The fund was launched in early May, to expand MRC’s relief efforts to support migrants facing the socio-economic impacts of the Covid-19 outbreak.

MRC said that the purpose of the appeal is “to expand and sustain the work of MRC volunteers, who are supporting migrant workers facing the brunt of the economic impacts of this crisis”.

The organization on Friday said that MVR 881,787.44 has been raised “at the halfway mark” of the one-month appeal for the relief fund.

To donate to the Migrant Relief Fund, individuals have been asked to use the donate button on their website, with the remarks “COVID19 Migrants Relief Fund”.

MRC’s President, Ali Nashid, has assured that they will be providing details on the funds received on a regular basis.

Maldivian Red Crescent’s volunteers have been involved in the provision of meal packs, providing staples and grocery supplies and hygiene kits to migrants living in quarantine and isolation facilities and other temporary shelters.

The treatment of migrants in the Maldives have always been a concern to both local and international organizations, especially their living situations.

Most are made to live in congested, unhygienic spaces particularly in the capital, and the Malé City Council recently said that they have identified over 300 such households.

Authorities have been providing temporary shelters since mid-April, and work is underway to reclaim a 30-hectare land in Gulhifalhu to develop accommodation facilities for expatriate workers.