Maldives Red Crescent extends Palestine emergency fund

Oct 27, 2023, 3:52 AM
Red Crescent press briefing. -- Photo: Adhadhu file

Red Crescent press briefing. -- Photo: Adhadhu file

The Maldives Red Crescent (MRC) has extended the donation period for an emergency fund opened to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestine in response to Israeli attacks.

At a press briefing on Thursday, MRC Secretary General Fathmath Himya said the organization has decided to extend the period for accepting donations for the fund, which was opened on October 14.

Donations can be made until November 12, Himya said. The period was previously due to expire next Saturday.

The decision was made in light of the changing circumstances of the war in Palestine and upon request of many members of the public, she said.

"Due to how the war is changing, and upon the request of various members of the public, we have extended the period to November 12," Himya said.

All the donations will be sent to the emergency fund of the Palestinian Red Crescent, she said. The MRC collected MVR 1.6 million as donations from individuals and businesses by October 24, Himya noted.

Despite extending the donation period, MRC is working towards sending funds collected by October 28 to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

"Discussions have started now with the Palestinian Red Crescent and relevant banks to carry out the work of handing over the funds," MRC Secretary General Himya said.

The Red Crescent has called for a ceasefire in order to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestine.

More than 6,000 Palestinians have been killed so far in the continuous Israeli attacks, including more than 2,700 children, more than 1,500 women and more than 300 elderly people.

More than 17,000 Palestinians have sustained injuries in the attacks. The number of people trapped in the rubble of demolished buildings is unclear, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

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