Donations from Chinese government, companies arrive in Maldives

A chartered flight arrived from China on Saturday, carrying donations of medical equipment from the country’s government, companies and well-wishers, was Maldives battles to contain a community spread of COVID-19 in its capital and several other residential islands.

It marks the second batch of aid to be sent by the China.

The donations which arrived on Saturday include large quantities of disposable protective masks, N95 protective masks, KN95 protective masks, infrared thermometers, goggles, medical protective suits, care beds, testing kits, ventilators, sampling sticks, and detection reagent extractant.

The donations were from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China as well as Chinese companies and well-wishers, which include Alibaba Foundation/ Jack Ma Foundation, China Merchants Port Group Co. Ltd, China Machinery Engineering Corporation, Beijing Urban Construction Investment & Development Co. Ltd, Dongfang Electric International Corporation, China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd, China Communications 2nd Navigational Bureau 2nd Engineering Co. Ltd and Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.

With joint efforts and much coordination, the chartered flight with medical materials of second batch donated by China to the people of the Maldives to contain COVID-19 arrived in the airport.@ibusolih@abdulla_shahid@MohamedNasheed pic.twitter.com/L2bL5ZfAoE

— Amb. Zhang Lizhong (@AmbassadorZhang) May 2, 2020

They include companies which are running projects in Maldives, which have also provided labor and material to build quarantine facilities.

Meanwhile, the local government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR) sent disposable masks, N95 masks, goggles, thermometers and PPE sets to the Male’ City Council.

Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid issued a statement expressing gratitude over the donations.

???? | Arrival of donations from Chinese Foreign Ministry and chinese companies pic.twitter.com/2hmmgRHznH

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs ???????? (@MoFAmv) May 2, 2020

He said that Maldives was “immensely privileged to have the support and generosity of friends, such as the government and the people of China.”

“The government and the people of China have always extended solidarity and extraordinary support to the Maldives in overcoming unprecedented challenges. Today, we are extremely grateful that China is with us, as we ride through the storm. The ride is tough, but we are hopeful that we will be able to adjust our sails and reach the shores safe,” he said.