National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has provided dewatering pumps to five islands.
NDMA has handed over the pumps and accessories to the local councils of Maalhos, Kendhoo and Thulhaadhoo in Baa Atoll as well as Naifaru and Hinnavaru in Lhaviyani Atoll. A delegation from NDMA, the Ministry of Defence, and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) visited the islands from August 27-29 to hand over the equipment.
The items were handed over to the councils by Deputy Minister of Defence Hussain Zahir. He was accompanied by Chief Executive of NDMA Hisan Hassan, Vice Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef and senior officers of the MNDF Northern Area Command.
NDMA has identified 18 islands that are among the most vulnerable and flood-prone and is providing the necessary equipment under the government's Strategic Action Plan. The authority is now preparing to provide dewatering pumps to 13 more islands under the project, which has cost USD91 million.