The MVR 19 million raised from a telethon organized by the state broadcaster Public Service Media (PSM) has not yet been handed over to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Adhadhu has learnt.
The telethon was initiated by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and ran from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm on June 12. Apart from PSM, various media outlets participated in the telethon and many people, including government agencies, contributed money to the fund.
A total of MVR 18,418,922 and USD 49,800 was raised from the telethon. The government decided to provide the money to the Palestinian people through UNRWA when PSM handed over the money to the Foreign Ministry on July 3.
Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Dr. Ali Naseer Mohamed announced the contribution at the UNRWA Pledging Conference at the UN Headquarters on July 12.
However, Adhadhu has confirmed that the money has not yet been handed over to UNRWA. The Foreign Ministry has not responded to repeated requests to find out the reason for the delay.
Government agencies, ministries, schools and private individuals also donated money to the fund opened during the Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine telethon. They include the first couple and many ministers.
The government decided to hold such a telethon to help the Palestinian people in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the Israeli genocide in Gaza.
More than 40,000 people have been killed in the genocide that began in October last year. Most of the victims are children and women.
