Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) has signed an agreement with National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) to install early warning and emergency communication systems in Maldives. Under the agreement signed the early warning and emergency communication systems would be installed in 33 islands covering all atolls of Maldives.
The communication systems would allow access for locals to communicate with government authorities and other emergency operation authorities without relying on telecommunication companies, according to MNDF. The institution assured the systems which will be established at a cost of over USD 109,000 would allow authorities to communicate with the islands for a period of at least 6 hours without depending on telecommunication companies.
Addressing the signing ceremony, Minister of Defence and National Security Adam Shareef Umar noted that in 2004 when Maldives was hit by a tsunami, the country was not ready in any form to combat such a disaster. The Minister said establishing early warning and emergency communication systems would minimise the effects of national disasters in the Maldives.
The emergency communications systems are funded from a free aid provided by the Government of Japan and with the assistance of India's South Asian satellite.