ARC AID assists over 1,800 vulnerable children, families nationwide

Through the ARC AID initiative, Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC) has reached over 1,800 vulnerable children and their families nationwide, during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The over 1,000 children and families spanning across 58 islands nationwide was assisted through the ARC AID Programme which provides basic food assistance to the vulnerable children, as well as their families, referred by government authorities, local councils and other NGOs.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic began sweeping across the Maldives on 7 March 2020, the government has been initiating stringent measures such as a lockdown, extended curfew and other measures that have had subsequent repercussions on socio-economic growth and the lifestyles of the people which in turn had “far-reaching” impacts on the lives of children.

As such many families have been faced by difficulties due to pay cuts and layoffs, with those who were more severely affected having relocated from the capital region to islands.

With an aim to ease some of the daily struggled faced by these vulnerable families and their children, the ARC AID Programme covers food supply for vulnerable families, ranging from rice, flour, lentils, milk powder, tuna cans, eggs as well as assorted cans of vegetables.

ARC revealed that no child should be deprived of their fundamental right to adequate food and nutrition especially during the ongoing pandemic.

ARC extended appreciation and gratitude to partners that assisted in their efforts by making generous contributions during such critical times, such as UNICEF, Bank of Maldives, Dhiraagu and individual donors.

ARC reaffirmed commitment to continue protecting and promoting child rights.