President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has thanked the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi following the evacuation of seven Maldivians from Wuhan, China.

The seven Maldivians were evacuated on a special AirIndia flight today, and have since been relocated to New Delhi, where they will be quarantined.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid briefed the media that 7 Maldivians will be housed in Delhi for the quarantine duration to ensure they are not infected/infectious before transferring them back to the Maldives. He also noted that the quarantine facility in Delhi suffices the requirements set by the World Health Organization and stated that the Indian Government would provide all necessities and access to their families and friends.

"My thanks and gratitude to PM Narendra Modi...and the Government of India for expeditiously evacuating the 7 Maldivians residing in Wuhan, China. This gesture is a fine example of the outstanding friendship and camaraderie between our two countries," President Solih said in a tweet today.

Minister Shahid further stated that apart from the 7 Maldivians transferred to Delhi, a further 43 Maldivians are residing in other cities in China, from which only one Maldivian wishes to return to the Maldives.