Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has described the COVID-19 pandemic as another great disaster such as the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami that we faced as a country.

He made the statement during an event on the occasion of National Unity Day.

Speaking during the event, he said that as we remember one of the worst disasters our county faced, we are living through another.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has surfaced the stark vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States such as the Maldives. This pandemic has reminded us of a reality evident even back in 2004 - multilateral cooperation and collective action is the most effective way to overcome global challenges. International cooperation is not an ideology – it delivers results. Disasters know no borders, and therefore international cooperation is absolutely crucial," he said.

The Minister also thanked all those who helped the country during the time of need.