Maldives has raised more than 7 million Ruffiya in the televised fundraisers in less than 37 hours for quake and disaster hit Japan.
Relief telethons held from Friday till lastnight 12:00, Maldivians donated more than 7 million Ruffiya to help to help the people of Japan whose lives were torn apart by an earthquake, a tsunami, and now, a nuclear scare.
A total of 5319162.69 Maldivian Ruffiya and 119,507 fish cans were donated in the fundraising telethon, which was broadcasted to express solidarity with the Japanese people after an Earthquake and Tsunami devastated the country last week, held from Friday at 10.15am to yesterday 00.00 hrs. This is a record amount collected from a Telethon.
The telethon, which was broadcasted live across all radio and TV stations, began at MNBCOne studio. A moment of silence was also be held at 10.46am on Friday to mark the moment the earthquake struck.
During his weekly address, President Nasheed appealed to the people of Maldives Holidays to participate in the telethon to show solidarity to the grief stricken Japanese. He stated that though Maldives is a small-island state, Maldivians should be standing with the Japanese in this tragedy that has struck their country.
Telethon Coordination Committee member, Ameen Ibrahim, said the telethon, organized by the Male City Council, aims to show the Japanese that the Maldivians share in their grief.
During the fundraising events donations were also made via SMS and the Internet. Donations were also be made at the Artificial Beach during the children’s evening. A police volleyball match was held at the social center on Friday night, and a music show was held near the tsunami monument at 9.30pm through to 7.00am on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Japan and Maldives established diplomatic relations during November 1967. Since then Japan has been assisting Maldives financially, educationally,etc. MIFCO, which processes the tuna fish cans donated to the relief fund yesterday, were also established with the aid of Japan.
According to Associated Press, last Friday’s earthquake in Japan, which originally recorded as an 8.9 magnitude but later was upgraded to a 9.0, caused a 23-foot tsunami. The country also has been plagued by more than 50 aftershocks, many with magnitudes of more than 6.0.
The quake and aftershocks also caused several explosions and radiation leakage at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
