Foreign Ministry has announced that Maldivians can now send care packages to their families stranded in Malaysia amid the on-going Covid-19 crisis.

In a statement the Ministry said it has arranged the Maldivian repatriation flight chartered to Malaysia to carry the care packages to their families in the country. The Ministry said the care packages will be transported free of charge.

Foreign Ministry also announced the guidelines for sending care packages to Malaysia. This include:

  • Packages should contain medication that is unavailable in Malaysia or any other goods that is needed urgently.
  • Every family can send packages no more than 15kg
  • Packages can contain Medication (with prescription), canned tuna case, noodles case, Fish/ Fried Leaves (other packed goods from local stores) and rihaakuru (only bottles packed by Mifco or Enzi in their original casing).
  • Money, Raw fish, Shorteats, fruits, vegetables, killi (shredded betel nut paste), staple foods, cigarette or tobacco products cannot be sent as care packages.

The Ministry said the care packages would be collected from a special counter placed at the departure hall at velanaa international airport from 8am to 4:30pm today.

Foreign Ministry said forms to send care packages could be submitted online. It said it will be first come first serve basis, for the first 500 applicants.