‘Falastheenaa Eku Dhivehin’ telethon begins

Maldives has launched a national telethon, titled “Falastheenaa Eku Dhivehin”, which roughly translates to “Maldivians in solidarity with Palestine”, in an effort to raise funds to aid Palestinians, as Israeli forces continue its devastating attacks on Gaza.

The telethon, which began at 08:00 am on Wednesday, will continue until midnight.

The telethon was launched by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

Cabinet ministers and heads of state-owned enterprises also joined the telethon.

The telethon was organized by the Public Service Media (PSM), in partnership with local media, including private TV channel SSTV, at President Muizzu’s request.

At the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday morning, PSM’s managing director Zeena Zahir promised complete transparency. She said that audit firm, Crowe Maldives LLP, has been hired as an independent auditor to ensure the funds raised via the telethon goes to its rightful recipients.

She stressed the importance of everyone joining in in the nationwide telethon.

Zeena expressed hopes of raising an “exemplary amount of funds” via the telethon.

As part of the telethon, donation boxes have been placed in 13 locations across the Maldivian capital, Male’ City. All donation boxes, except for the one placed in the courtyard of Television Maldives (TVM), will close at dusk.

Donations can also be sent via online bank transfers.

• 7730000655865 (MVR)
• 7730000655866 (USD)

Maldivian TV channels had also run a telethon to raise funds for Palestinians back in October last year.

Israel’s current war on Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children. It has also reduced much of the Palestinian territory to rubble, displaced the vast majority of residents, and resulted in widespread malnutrition.