Afghanistan, Maldives pledge $1.2 million to SAARC Coronavirus Emergency Fund

Afghanistan and Maldives on March 21 pledged to contribute USD 1.2 million to SAARC Corona Emergency Fund proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A spokesperson for the President of Afghanistan Sediq Sediqqi reportedly said that the Afghan government believed in joint collaboration and strengthening partnership to fight the rapidly spread coronavirus. Sediqqi in a tweet wrote that the Afghanistan government approved a one million USD contribution to the emergency fund. 

READ: Bhutan Pledges USD 100,000 To SAARC Corona Emergency Fund

Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid also took to Twitter to announce that the country will be joining the initiative to tackle the challenges posed by Coronavirus pandemic. Shahid wrote that the country will be contributing USD 200,000 to tackle the virus outbreak. 

Earlier this week, Bhutan and Nepal also pledged nearly USD one million and USD 100,000 respectively to the SAARC Corona Emergency Fund. Modi said that it was wonderful to see SAARC leaders taking initiatives that are adding strength to the collective fight against Coronavirus. 

READ: PM-proposed SAARC Emergency Fund To Combat Coronavirus Operationalised: MEA

‘Must work together’

Modi, on March 15, addressed a SAARC video conference to share each other efforts and issues as the seven countries battle the pandemic. The video conference was led by PM Modi and was attended by Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, Maldives President Ibrahim Solih, Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bhutan Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's assistant - Dr Zafar Mirza. PM Modi highlighted the SAARC's ancient ties and said that 'we must work and succeed together'. 

Globally, around 11,800 people have died due to Coronavirus, with the epicentre being China. The virus has infected around 2,87,000 people globally and has now spread to North America, South America, Europe, New Zealand, and more than 100 other countries.

READ: 'Working To Provide Swift Assistance': MEA On India's Efforts To Uphold SAARC Agreement

READ: Emergency SAARC Fund Proposed By PM Modi Operationalised: MEA