The Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC) has garnered over MVR 1.3 million in funds for the migrant relief fund launched by the humanitarian organization on May 1.

In a statement released on Monday, the humanitarian organization revealed that they collected MVR 1,374,745.79 as donations for the funds by May 31.

Locals donated these funds through the Bank of Maldives and Maldives Islamic Bank to the account listed by the organization and the total is equivalent to USD 88,716.36.

The statement reads that the purpose of the fund is to expand the work already undertaken by the organization to support vulnerable migrant workers facing the severe economic impacts of the global pandemic and the lockdown that the government has begun easing in phases since Friday.

The organization is already facilitating and providing meals and hygiene kits for migrant workers, along with supporting the facilitation of medical care in coordination with local agencies, said Maldivian Red Crescent.

85% of the donations in the Migrant Relief Fund has been allocated for meal provision including hot meal deliveries and grocery deliveries and 10% will be used for hygiene promotion including the provision of hygiene kits.

The remaining five percent is to be used to cover administrative expenses related to this programme, said Maldivian Red Crescent.

With the support from several individuals and government agencies, the organization has provided 100,000 hot meals to over 3,600 migrant workers in need, up until Monday. The organization continues to provide regular meal packs to more than 1,000 migrants.

Hygiene kits, including soap, shampoo, towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste and detergent have also been delivered to over 550 migrant workers in the temporary shelter and facilities allocated by the government after a number of Bangladeshi workers began testing positive for the Covid-19 virus.