Gaza fund:
BML to exchange MVR 29 million to US Dollars

The Bank of Maldives (BML) has decided to exchange the MVR 29.46 million received as donations to help the people of Gaza, to US Dollars.

In a statement issued today, the Steering Committee of the Help Gaza Telethon said that BML has agreed to sell $1.91 million, in exchange for the MVR 23.16 million received by the Help Gaza Telethon organised by Maldivian media organizations, and the MVR 6.3 million received by the Gaza Fund Maldives.

According to the statement, this was confirmed by Deputy CEO of BML Aishath Noraddeen, in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Steering Committee Ibrahim Umar Manik.

BML has also assured that the money will be exchanged at the official rate of MVR 15.45 per US Dollar, without any local charges.

The decision by BML to exchange this money comes following a request by the Steering Committee of the Help Gaza Telethon in this regard, from President Abdulla Yameen and Governor of Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) Azeema Adam.

A ceremony has been scheduled for this evening, for the signing of an agreement between the Steering Committee of the Help Gaza Telethon, Gaza Fund Maldives, and the Red Crescent Society, regarding how the donations should be utilised.

The Help Gaza Telethon Steering Committee has said that the money should be used to provide clean water, food, and medicine to the people in need in Gaza. The committee has also said that the items bought using this money should be marked with the Maldivian flag or the Maldivian national emblem, to indicate that the items were donated to Gaza by the people of Maldives.

The Steering Committee has thanked the public for their support for the activities to help the people of Gaza.

The Help Gaza Telethon Fund was also managed by BML.