The government has stated that more than MVR 19 million raised from a telethon organized by the state broadcaster Public Service Media (PSM) has been handed over to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Adhadhu reported yesterday, citing a government official, that the funds had not been handed over to the agency.
Following the news report, the Foreign Ministry sent a message to the media stating that MVR 19,309,468.02 donated during the telethon had been deposited to the account of UNRWA with the help of the Finance Ministry and Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA).
Although the message did not mention the date of the deposit, some media outlets reported that the money was deposited yesterday.
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.
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.
