Gov begins distributing free food staples for Ramadan

The government has begun distributing free food staples for households across the Maldives for the holy month of Ramadan.

The State Trading Organization (STO) said on Friday that it had imported stocks of rice and flour, and was fully prepared for distribution.

The government has pledged to provide 10 kilos of Basmati rice and 10 kilos of flour to each household.

Distribution of the food staples began in the Maldivian capital on Saturday morning – under the supervision of the Male’ City Council.

The rice and flour packages will be available until March 16 – except on for the first day of Ramadan and Friday.

The distribution of food staples will be conducted in Male’ from 10:00 am to 04:00 pm and 08:30 pm to 11:00 pm.

But during Ramadan, the food packages will be available from 09:30 am to 01:00 pm and from 09:00 pm to 11:30 pm.

The free food staples are only available to Maldivian citizens. City council officials will check the electricity meter board number and the national ID card.

The packages are being distributed in Male’ from:

• Galolhu Stadium
• Male’ City Council’s Public Services Unit
• Social Center
• The hall of Masjid al-Birri in Vilimale’
• The Umar Zahir Building in Hulhumale’ Phase I
• The Youth Center at Hiyaa Tower 10 in Hulhumale’ Phase II

STO has also begun supplying the free food staples to atolls, where the distribution will be organized by respective councils.

President Muizzu had announced the decision to provide free food staples for Ramadan while speaking to reporters at the Velana International Airport on January 13, after concluding a state visit to China.

He also said that he plans on securing additional sources of supply, and ending Maldives’ reliance on any one country for food staples.