ASIAN DISASTER REDUCTION CENTRE
Visiting Researcher Program – FY2014B

COUNTRY REPORT: REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES

Fathmath Saushan Moosa
Senior Administrative Officer
National Disaster Management Center

Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC)CONTENTS
General Description ...................................................................................................... 4
Geography ................................................................................................................ 5
Climate ...................................................................................................................... 6
Demography.............................................................................................................. 6
Government .............................................................................................................. 7
Economy ................................................................................................................... 8
Natural Hazards in the Maldives ................................................................................... 9
Storms / Cyclones ..................................................................................................... 9
Sea level rise........................................................................................................... 10
Water shortage........................................................................................................ 11
Tsunami .................................................................................................................. 12
Earthquake .............................................................................................................. 13
Recent Major Disasters in Maldives ............................................................................ 14
Water Shortages ..................................................................................................... 14
Storms / flood / Tsunami.......................................................................................... 15
Disaster Management System .................................................................................... 16
Administrative system in Maldives ........................................................................... 16
Legal system and framework ................................................................................... 18
Structure of Disaster Management .......................................................................... 18
National platform for Disaster Risk Reduction ...................................................... 20
National Organizations for Disaster Risk Reduction ............................................. 21
Local Organizations for Disaster Risk Reduction ................................................. 22
Disaster Management Strategy, Policy, and Plan ....................................................... 22
Budget Size on National Level .................................................................................... 22
Progress of the Implementation of Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) in the Maldives................................................................................................................................... 23

Maldives Country Report – FY2014B

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Area 1: .................................................................................................................... 23
Area 2: .................................................................................................................... 24
Area 3: .................................................................................................................... 24
Recent Major Projects on Disaster Risk Reduction in the Maldives............................. 26
UNDP Project .......................................................................................................... 26
ADPC Project .......................................................................................................... 27
UNICEF PROJECT ................................................................................................. 27
Resort program ....................................................................................................... 28
ADRC Counterpart in the Maldives ............................................................................. 29

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Disclaimer

This report was compiled by an ADRC visiting researcher (VR) from ADRC
member countries.

The views expressed in the report do not necessarily reflect the views of
the ADRC. The boundaries and names shown and the designations usedon the maps in the report also do not imply official endorsement or
acceptance by the ADRC.

Maldives Country Report – FY2014B

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GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Maldives, officiallythe Republic

of

the

Maldives, is an island
nation intheIndianOcean–Arabian
Sea area, consisting ofadouble chain oftwenty-six

atolls,oriented north-south.

The

Maldives

encompassspreadoveratollsa territory

Figure1: Maldives on the world map

roughly

90,000 square kilometers (35,000 sq mi), making the country one of the world's mostgeographically dispersed. Its population of 328,536 (2012) inhabits 200 of its 1,190
islands – which increases and decreases as the tide change. In 2006, Maldives' capitaland largest city Malé, located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll, had a populationof 103,693. Malé is one of divisions and, traditionally, it was the "King's Island" where
the ancient Maldives royal dynasties were enthroned.

The Maldives is the smallest Asian country in both population and land area. With anaverage ground level elevation of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, it is theplanet's lowest country. It is also the country with the lowest natural highest point in theworld, at 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in).

Maldives Country Report – FY2014B

4|PageAsian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC)GEOGRAPHY
The Maldives is a chain of 1,190 small islands
stretching across the equator to the south westof Sri Lanka. The 1,190 islands – of which only
200 are inhabited – form an archipelago of 26
natural atolls (groups of neighbouring coralislands). Each of the 26 atolls that make up
the Maldives is enclosed by a coral reef cut by

Figure 2: Geographical feature of Maldives (Atolls)

several deep, natural channels and a lagoon.
The

Maldives

archipelago

stretches 823 km north tosouth and 130 km east to
west.

Over

99%

of

the

Maldives is made up of thesea: only 0.331% (115 square

Figure 3: A typical island of Maldives

miles) of its 35,000 square mile surface area is dry land.
How the islands actually formed is something of a mystery. The theory that has most
support was first suggested by Charles Darwin in 1842 (after he had studied similar atollsin the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans). Darwin’s theory suggests that the islands wereformed when volcanoes rose from the sea and coral reefs grew around their edges. The
volcanoes subsequently sank back into the sea leaving the coral reefs to circle a shallow
water-filled lagoon. Islands then formed when currents and tides swept dead coral andother organic debris into the lagoons which in turn became filled-in and were eventuallycolonised by plants and trees.
The islands that make up the Maldives are very small (most can be walked across in 10
minutes; only a few are longer than 2 kilometres) and low-lying (they rarely reach morethan six feet above sea-level). This makes them particularly vulnerable to sea erosion. In
1812 and again in 1955, devastating gales destroyed many northern islands, while in1987 the capital, Male, was flooded by a severe storm. If, as some scientists predict,global sea levels continue to rise as a consequence of global warming, it will pose aparticular risk to the Maldives.

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CLIMATEThe Maldives has a tropical climate with warm
temperatures throughout the year and many
hours of sunshine. With an average temperatureof 33°C and an average minimum temperatureof 26°C there are only minor variations in daily
temperature throughout the year. There are two

Figure 4: south west monsoon (rainy season)

monsoon periods: the southwest monsoon (thewet period from May to November) and thenortheast

monsoon (thedryperiod fromJanuary to March).

Figure 5: North east monsoon (Dry season)

DEMOGRAPHY

The estimated population of the Maldives is345,000. Maldivians are ethnically from South
Indians, Sinhalese, and Arabs. Islam is thereligion of the State and Maldives is a hundred
percent Muslim country. Dhivehi is the national
language and thaana, derived from Arabic is

Figure 6: Islamic Centre- the biggest mosque inthe script used in Maldives. Even though not

Maldives

officiallyquoted,Englishisthe second

language of the Maldives and the majority ofthe populace can speak and write in English.

Figure 7: Thaana– the script used in Maldives

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GOVERNMENT

Maldives is a presidential republic, with the
President as head of government and head ofstate.. The President heads the executive
branch and appoints the cabinet which isapproved by the People's Majlis (Parliament).
(Parliament)
Following the introduction of a new constitution
in 2008, direct elections for the President take

Figure 8: President Abdullah Yamin Abdul

place every five years, with a limit of two terms

Gayyomin office for any individual. The current
President is Abdulla Yameen.
Yameen Members of
the unicameral Majlis serve five-year
five
terms,
with the total number of members determinedby atoll populations. At the 2009 election, 77
members were elected. The People's Majlis,

Figure 9: The people’ss majlis - Parliament

located in Male, houses members from all overthe country.
Maldives is divided into 20 administrative divisions (atolls), each headed by an atoll
council with the exception of Addu
Addu Atoll (Seenu Atoll) which, along with the capital Male’
has been declared as a city. Addu and Male’ city has a city council. Every other island
has an island council and operates under a decentralized system. All the councilors areelected after a referendum
rendum at the respective levels.

Maldives Country Report – FY2014B

7|PageAsian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC)ECONOMYThe currency of the Maldives is Rufiyaa (MVR)
at an exchange rate of 15.42 MVR for 1 USD.
Maldives consisting of ninety-nine
ninetypercent water,
the main source of food is from the sea. Tuna isa significant source of income
ncome in the island
nation. Canned tuna,, dried tuna, salted tuna, andFigure 10: Canned tuna – main export

various products made from tuna are exported to Asian and European countries. Thereare companies, private and government-owned
governmentthat takes part in this industry.
Maldives is famous for her natural beauty andremains

anattractive

destinationforvacationers. Tourism began in the Maldives in1972 and to this day, there are more thanhundred resorts in the Maldives. Maldives isheavily dependent on the import of goods
good andtourism is the main source of foreign income
into the country. The Gross Domestic Profit

Figure 11: Beach side of a tourist resort(GDP) is estimated at around 2.3
2. billion USD with an estimated GDP per capita (PPP)of 9,100 USD.

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NATURAL HAZARDS IN THE MALDIVES•

Storms / Cyclones•

Sea level rise•

Flood / sea swell•

Water shortage•

Tsunami•Earthquake

STORMS / CYCLONES
At times, tropical cyclones hitting Maldives
are destructive due to associated strong
winds that exceed speeds of 150 km per hour,
rainfall above 30 to 40 cm in 24 hours andstorm tides that often exceed 4 or 5 m. The
combined effect of surge and tide is known as
storm

tide’.

Storm

tides

can

cause

catastrophe in low-lying areas, flat coasts andislands such as Maldives.

Figure 12: A storm

The islands of Maldives are less prone totropical cyclones. The northern islands of thecountry were affected by weak cyclones thatformed in the southern part of the Bay of
Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The number ofcyclones directly crossing Maldives is small.
Only 11 cyclones, which were formed during
the months of October to January, crossed the

Figure 13: Cyclone Nilaam - 2013

islands over 128 years.
The vulnerability of the islands in the northern atolls is heightened due to their poor
accessibility compared to other parts of the country. In a post cyclone situation, affectedareas are inaccessible for several days due to poor weather and rough sea conditions. In
cyclones, risk to livelihoods in the primary sectors such as agriculture and fishing, and in
the service sectors is high.

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9|PageAsian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC)SEA LEVEL RISE
Sea level rise due to climate change
threatens the entire country. Estimations
are that the projected sea level rise of 0.09
m to 0.88 m is going to take place between
1990 - 2100. As three quarters of the landarea of Maldives is less than a meter above
mean sea level, the slightest rise in sea

Figure 14: Male’ in the year 2050 - 31% of Male’ inundated

level will prove extremely threatening. As
per an estimate, 15 % land area of Male

under IPCC worst case scenario (IS92e)

will be inundated by 2025 and 50% by
2100. For people living on low-lying
lowislands,a rise in sea levels by 50 cm could see
significant
ant portions of the islands being
inundated or washed away by erosion.
As a result of the rise in sea level, a varietyof impacts may be expected in Maldives.
These include loss of land, flooding of low
lying

coastalareas,

displacementofFigure 15: Damages caused to the beach due to sea
level rise

population, loss of crop yield, impacts oncoastal aquaculture, and erosion of sandy
beaches.
As most of the economic activities in
Maldives are heavily dependent on the
coastal ecosystem, sea level rise will impact

Figure 16: Damages caused to livelihood of people

the social and economic development of thedue to sea level risecountry. Residential areas, industry and vital
infrastructure of the country lie close to the shoreline, within 0.8 to 2 m of mean sea level.
Even now some islands are seriously affected by loss not only of shoreline but also ofhouses, schools and other infrastructure, compelling the government to initiate urgent
coastal protection measures.
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Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC)WATER SHORTAGE

Freshwater is in short supply in theMaldives, where the traditional reliance ongroundwater supplies for both potable andnon-potablepotableuses

hasrecently

been

brought into question - particularly on
densely populated islands - as a result of:
Figure 17: Diagram showing a fresh water lens of an• Over-extraction
extraction of groundwater byislandgrowing populations• Contamination of groundwater, withtoxins reaching the aquifer as a result ofpoor sanitation• Salinisation of aquifers during storm
surges, and especially as a result of the

Figure 18: Dhonies carrying water to islands

2004 tsunami, which seriously damaged
public perceptions of groundwater quality
and led to calls for sewerage systems andthe provision of other sources of freshwater.
freshwater
Although not considered as a disaster,
but due to the programming and logisticalFigure 19: Re filling
illing the water containers during dry
seasons in islands

costs, the government faces every year it isconsidered as a crisis.
The government provides thousandsof tons of freshwater to islands in order for
drinking and cooking.

Figure 20: Distribution of water with the help of MNDFMNDF
Water crisis in Male’ – December 2014

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Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC)TSUNAMIIn Maldives, islands along the east are more
prone to tsunami hazard than those along
the north, south and west ones, where thethreat is considered low. As such, theislands with lower elevation and higher
population are at greater risk.
The Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004 was the

Figure 21: Damages caused due to tsunami - 2004

first Tsunami to hit Maldives. It caused
great damage to the delicate islands as wellas the economy of the country and thelivelihood of its people.
And it is possible that a tsunami to be

Figure 22: Damages caused due to tsunami - 2004

generated from the active seismic zones
around Sumatra, Western India and in thewaters west and south west of Maldives.
The Waters of ocean lying south ofMaldives and the Carlsberg oceanic ridge
zone, which has a high level of seismic
activity.

Figure 23: Damages caused due to tsunami - 2004

Figure 24: International Airport on tsunami - 2004

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EARTHQUAKE
Situated on the Indo-Australian plate, theMaldives is tectonically very stable andaseismic.

Itislocated

far

away

from

high-seismicity regions. But traumas havebeen felt by people across a wide area and on
many islands. These traumas are said that,were not caused by nearby seismic events, butby the relatively large events that haveoccurred in the western Indian and Sumatra
region. But it is possible that a major
earthquake to suddenly occur in a region thathas not been seismically active in the past.
And attention is given to the possibility of atsunami generated from the active seismic
zones around Sumatra, Western India and in
the waters west and south west of Maldives.
The Waters of ocean lying south of MaldivesFigure 25: Seismic hazard map

and the Carlsberg oceanic ridge zone, which has a high level of seismic activity.

Figure 26: Map of world seismic activity and tectonic plates

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RECENT M AJOR DISASTERS IN MALDIVESWATER SHORTAGES

Due to over- extraction, contamination and as a result of Salinisation of aquifers duringstorm surges, and especially as a result of the 2004 tsunami, the fresh water lens ofMaldives is almost destroyed. And now the only source of fresh water to the country israin water. But the amount of rain water that is collected during the rainy season is notenough to cover the whole year’s consumption. As a result there is a shortage of fresh
water during the dry season of each year. Since the island communities do not have thecapacity to provide for themselves, the government sends emergency water supplies tothese islands.
Year

No. of Islands

Total amount of

Total amount spentwater delivered (in(in USD)

tons)
2005

91

2,728

159,221.80

2006

86

2,905

145,525.30

2007

82

2,694

131,031.10

2008

74

2,088

101,556.40

2009

117

7.469

472,144.70

2010

Water provided by province offices

2011

108

3,920

142,178.30

2012

86

2,500

286,075.80

2013

28

1,225

537,363.60

2014

77

2,909

349,691.75

Table 1: water provided to islands during water shortages

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Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC)STORMS / FLOOD / TSUNAMI

Floods are annual occurrences in the Maldives and records are not usually maintained
unless it is a national level crisis.

Year/Stor

Islands affectedm2012

Causedflooding(Cyclonein 51 islands, 28

Nilam)

islands

PeopleDea

MissinDamageaffected

d

g

3,826

-

-

133,090.60 USD

88

20

470 million USD

severeflooding, 4 islands
critical2004

53 were severely Nearly(Tsunami)

damaged

12,000displaced.
1,200

IDPs

Estimated cost ofreconstruction is
406 million USD

still live in 6
islands
Table 2: Recent disasters and there effects

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Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC)DISASTER M ANAGEMENT SYSTEMADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM IN MALDIVESStructure of local government in Maldives•Local government within the country

Local government is two-tier, comprising island councils and city councils, all ofwhich are accountable to an atoll council.
•

Ministerial oversight

The Local Government Authority (LGA) has responsibility for local government andadvises atoll councils on the formulation of regulations and by-laws.
•

Atoll councils:

These are mandated to oversee administrative and development work and tocoordinate and monitor the activities and functioning of the island councils. The atoll
council comprises members elected for a three year term from the electoral
constituencies of the administrative divisions within its boundaries.
•

City councils:

City councils must have a population of more than 25,000, the necessary capacity
to deliver the appropriate services and a minimum level of gross productivity as
specified by central government from time to time. There are two city councils, with
between them a total of 17 councilors.
•

Island councils:

Every inhabited island in the Maldives, except islands where city councils are
established, is governed by an elected island council which prepares island
development plans in consultation with the community, and submits them to the atoll
council. They are also mandated to take all necessary measures to establish a safe andpeaceful environment on the island in collaboration with the police. Island councils
comprise elected members from that particular island

The Constitution of the Maldives dictates that all disaster management activities toinclude response and recovery fall on the state. Disaster management is currently underthe mandate Nation Disaster Management Center, and the Maldives National Defense
Force (MNDF) and Maldives Police Service are the first responders in a disaster. The
main works of NDMC includes relief, disaster risk reduction and preparedness,
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advocacy and awareness, emergency response. And there are activities and programes
conducted to strenghthen the post disaster and assement and relief works. Some ofthem includes :
•
1.

Forms
Situation report: This form is intended for use by the atoll or island council inorder to log details about the disaster i.e. The type of disaster, affected area,
casualties, displaced people and information of there temporary shelters.

2.

Immidiate relief aid requesition form: This form is intended for use by theatoll or island council in order to requst for an immidiate relief (usually in adisaster the request is send direcly via telephone – the form is sent
afterwards)

3.

Rapid Impact Assesment form: This form is intended for use by the atoll or
island council in order to record details of damage to infrastructure,
households, livelihooda, casualties and death in the island or atoll. The form
is requested to send after 24 hours after the disaster.

4.

Damage and loss assesment form: This form is intended for use by the atoll
or island council in order to log the damage caused to the island andeconomical and financial loss is identified by the form.

•

Relief Guidline

In the aim to improve the quality of assistance provided to people affected by disasters,
and to enhance the accountability of the humanitarian system in disaster response themaldives is developing a relief guideline based on sphere standards, which covers basic
items for immediate relief and compensation for loss.

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Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC)LEGAL SYSTEM AND FRAMEWORK
Soon after the Indian Ocean Tsunami that hit Maldives in 2004, the Government ofMaldives acted swiftly and set up a Ministerial Committee and Task Force and the
National Disaster Management Center (NDMC) was established by a presidential
decree to facilitate response and coordination. At that time the Center has been the
focal point for all response, relief and recovery activities.
As things progressed the disaster preparedness and risk reduction was included in the
mandate of NDMC. However, there is no legal framework for a disaster management
system in the Maldives.
Work is in progress to endorse a Disaster Management Act. Currently, the draft of thebill is at the Attorney General’s Office for legalization, and is to be sent to the parliament
for endorsement.

STRUCTURE OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT
National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) is under the organizational structure of
Ministry of Defence and National Security. And it is the primary agency for response,
recovery, disaster risk reduction (DRR), preparedness and as a coordinating body at atime of disaster. While Maldives National Defence Force and Maldives Police Service
are the first responders in a disaster.

Figure 27: Island disaster management structure

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The current mandates of the National Disaster Management Centre are:

1. Organizing and conducting various programs needed to alert the public in the eventof disasters both natural and otherwise, and raising government and public awarenessof such events.
2. Establish and coordinate the legal and administrative system required to havegovernment ministries, private sector, groups and organizations and individual citizens
all working together for any work that needs to be carried out in a centralized manner
due to disasters natural or otherwise.
3. In the event of disasters natural and otherwise, decide who needs immediate
response and relief, and organize and coordinate ways to send aid to them inconjunction with other authorities concerned.
4. Provide temporary shelter to those whose homes are damaged beyond use due todisasters both natural and otherwise.
5. Oversee that the basic necessities are provided for those whose homes are damaged
beyond use due to disasters both natural and otherwise, until temporary shelter can bearranged.
6. Organize and coordinate with concerned government authorities the actions needed
to be taken to acquire both foreign and internal aid in the event of disasters both naturaland otherwise.
7. Establish a stable system of working in association with concerned government andnon-government authorities in order to ensure that disaster risk reduction remains a toppriority.
8. Conduct researches on the devastation caused by natural disasters and dangerous
illnesses in a small country like Maldives, and using the outcomes of the research,compile and publish a set of rules and regulations to be followed for any actions taken.
9. Ensure that any developmental programs or projects being conducted by various
government ministries are done within the rules and regulations to reduce the damage
caused by disasters as much as possible.
10. Enhance and increase the capacity of the early warning systems for natural
disasters, dangerous illnesses and other disasters.
11. Establish and conform a secure system to conduct the actions taken to reduce thedamage caused by disasters in a de-centralized manner.

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12. Schedule and conduct any arrangements necessary to increase the safety of groups
and organizations, women and people with special needs in islands during disaster risk
reduction.
13. Establish a system in which regional and international experience, information andother resources can be utilized, to reduce damage caused by disasters.
14. Conduct awareness programs on disaster risk reduction in all regions of Maldiveson a permanent basis.
15. Incorporate disaster risk reduction and disaster management into the national
education system, compile an appropriate curriculum and, in association withconcerned authorities, decide on ways to teach it.
16. Facilitate training for government employees who would be initiating the disaster risk
reduction works, in collaboration with them.
17. Collect information on disaster risk management on a wide scale and making it
accessible to public.
According to the Decentralization Act of the Maldives, the local councils and the Local
Government Authority have a big stake in disaster management. Local councils are
responsible to undertake, upon appointment by the President, the task of planning andcarrying out search and rescue, or provide temporary relief or restore normalcy to thearea during times of natural calamity, disaster, state of emergency, famine, or an
epidemic in any island, or administrative division. Furthermore, the local councils havethe responsibility to allocate funds for losses incurred during natural disasters in theirbudgets. It is also up to the local councils to coordinate with NDMC to provide aid andrelief from the central government in case the situation worsens.

NATIONAL PLATFORM FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

There is no National platform for DRR in Maldives. There is a multi-sectorial Technical
Working Group that provides technical input to projects. It has representatives from alldevelopmental sectors and stakeholders in disaster management. Mainstreaming DRR
into development is a priority among sectors but is not implemented at an adequatelevel.

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Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC)NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

Apart from the NDMC, Maldives have very
few national organizations that undertakethe DRR process. Maldivian Red Crescentconducts programs and workshops mainly
focusing on disaster management as a core
strategic area. And the United Nations
office in the Maldives provides funding andconducts various programs in coordination
with

the

Maldivian

National

Disaster

conducts

workshops

government.

Management
andFigure 28: MRC - emergency first response service

And

Centreawareness

programs in atoll and in islands, incollaboration
Defence

with

Force

to

Maldives
rise

National

disasterrisk

reduction capabilities at the island and atoll
level.
Figure 29: MNDF Conducting CBDRR workshops in

Maldives National Defence Force alsoisland communities

conducts annual emergency management
workshops in different areas of the country aimed at local councilors and staff who workat schools, health sector, Maldives Police Service, and other government agencies.
These workshops introduce them to the concept of managing a crisis before help could
arrive, how to deal with evacuations, and to raise awareness about the importance ofbeing prepared.

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Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC)LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

Non-governmental Organizations such as CARE Society, Maldives Youth Climate
Network etc have a focus on DRR and Climate Change.
Other thematic NGOs working in areas such as women, children, people with disabilities,
autism, heart disease etc advocate for mainstreaming DRR into development and theplanning processes that cater to the needs of the most vulnerable people.

DISASTER M ANAGEMENT STRATEGY, POLICY, AND PLAN

At present, Maldives lacks a disaster management strategy, policy or a plan. However,work is ongoing to formulate a National Emergency Operation Plan (NEOP) to define
the roles, responsibilities, the standard operating procedures, and the framework
required to manage disasters at every level. NDMC will publish the NEOP by the time
Parliament ratifies the Disaster Management Act. Furthermore, NDMC is currently in theprocess of introducing a damage assessments toolkit in order for island communities toreport the damages they face due to hazards. This process would introduce a tool tocollect damage and needs information, and provide NMDC timely assessments of thecrisis. The first phase of this project began at 2014. The first phase focused on
institutionalizing the tool and establishes procedures for communities to send
information, for NDMC to analyze and share it with other stakeholders, and finally, how
NDMC would get the pre-crisis information.

BUDGET SIZE ON NATIONAL LEVELNDMC deals with running the DRR and awareness programs and the funding is to bethrough the government budget. But there is no state budget for preparedness andawareness. NDMC budget only covers administrative costs and staff salaries and did
not receive funding for any proposed programs for disaster related activities. Mostly the
DRR activities are run by partnership projects from international organizations. But
usually partnership projects do not allow for investment in infrastructure and equipment.
A separate fund for response is allocated at the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.
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Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC)PROGRESS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HYOGO FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION (HFA) IN
THE M ALDIVESThe progress of implementation of Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015:
Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters, has been going on in
the Maldives since the time of its inception. In order to achieve the goals outlined by the
HFA, the Government of the Maldives committed to HFA’s five priority for action.
Following is a summary of the National Progress Report on the implementation of HFAin the Maldives from 2011-2013, reported by the National Disaster Management Centre.

AREA 1:
The more effective integration of disaster risk considerations into sustainable
development policies, planning and programming at all levels, with a special emphasison disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness and vulnerability reduction.
Outcome:Disaster risks consideration has been integrated in the Government’s National
Development Plan. Specifically, 2011 Strategic National Action Plan on Climate Change
Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction for 2010-2020 was designed to promotecollaboration among policymakers, experts and practitioners of DRR and climatechange adaptation in the country for the development of a comprehensive risk
management approach. It aims to build resilience of the nation and the island
communities to disasters by sustaining the progress made by consolidating learned
best practices and by incorporating risk reduction into the strategy for decentralization.
Once harmonized with the policies, plans and sustainable development strategy, it will
identify a consolidated set of programs and projects that can be undertaken with
Government budget and considered for donor assistance. Few government agencies’
programs have already integrated disaster considerations such as the Safe Island
program, a new proposal for mosques as safe shelters has been developed. These
mosques will act as a base for food and water storage, and communication equipment,
acting as a stronghold in each island in case of disaster.

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AREA 2:The development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms and capacities at alllevels, in particular at the community level, that can systematically contribute to building
resilience to hazards
Outcome:Established government institutions lack adequate capacity and resources thus have
limitations in implementing DRR initiatives at all levels including interventions forcommunities. The pending Disaster Management Bill delayed initiatives to strengthencertain institutional mechanisms for effective coordination and enforcement of laws,
guidelines and standards that incorporated disaster risk considerations. Further the
implementation of Decentralization Act hindered by the lack of sufficient capacity andresources all national, atolls and islands levels including communities. In the absence ofa legal DRR framework and insufficient funding, government agencies havecollaborated on ad hoc basis to implement programs. The approach has mobilized
trained staff from different Ministries and institutions at the national and international
level in disaster management, risk reduction and other related fields with many yet to be
fully utilized. The civil society organizations have made good progress in conducting
trainings to strengthen capacities of government agencies, private sectors andcommunities.

AREA 3:The systematic incorporation of risk reduction approaches into the design andimplementation of emergency preparedness, response and recovery programmes in thereconstruction of affected communities.
Outcome:The government agencies, private sector and civil society organization have supported
key sectors and several communities on emergency preparedness, response andrecovery. This includes development of Community-based Disaster Preparedness
Plans for affected communities with guidance on preparedness, response and recovery
based on Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments (VCA). During the process, trainings
for response including trainings for 1st Aid, search and rescue, psycho-social support

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and early warning were provided as well as simulation exercises conducted for someislands. School level Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were completed for most
schools in the country with staff being trained on emergency preparedness anddecentralized management including regular mock drills being conducted within theschool as well as activities carried out for community awareness with the involvement of
parents in DRR. Ministry of Health and Family have specific SOP for the health sector
while Ministry of National Defence Force, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture SOPs inplace for their respective sectors.

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RECENT M AJOR PROJECTS ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IN THE MALDIVES

Major projects on DRR are few in the Maldives. Most of the projects thus far have beensmall programs conducted by the NDMC, MNDF and the Maldivian Red Crescent with afocus on DRR at the island level. DRR is implemented mainly through partnershipprojects. The ongoing projects include.

1. UNDP
2. ADPC
3. UNICEF
4. Resort programmers

But these partnership projects do not allow for investment in infrastructure andequipment.

UNDP PROJECT

Enhance National Capacity for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Maldives:
1.

The establishment of the institutional and legal systems for DRR and effective
DRR organizations/institutions;2.

The strengthening of the end-to-end early warning systems and facilitates

implementation of public awareness campaigns and knowledge building on DRR andclimate change adaptation.
3.

In increasing community capacities for disaster preparedness for effective

response, and will entail a multi-hazard approach involving a multi-stakeholder
engagement.
4.

The National Disaster Management Centre to be engaged as the primary

implementing partner for the project to ensure sustainability and ownership. Assessing
and strengthening the capacities of the NDMC as the lead national institution on
disaster risk reduction/disaster risk management coordination, will also be a key
component of this project.

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Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC)ADPC PROJECT

Mainstreaming Local Level DRR and CCA into Local Development Programmes
1. National templates on preparedness and response plans
2. National guideline on integrating CBDRR activities into local government
authorities programs
3. Training package modules
4. Jointly organize workshop on National ToT
5. Organize orientation workshop for key stakeholders to finalize National
Community based DRR framework

UNICEF PROJECT

Development of standards and protocols to strengthen NDMC’s coordination role withisland communities pre and post emergencies
1. Develop an organizational five year action plan for emergency operations

functions in Disaster Management Center
2. Develop roles and responsibilities, institutional arrangements and set-ups,

capacity building strategies, tools for stakeholder capacity building, resource
allocation and utilization mechanisms
3. Develop SOP's to strengthen NDMC's coordination role with atoll / island

councils and other relevant authorities and Sectors to prepare, plan andresponse to emergencies
4. Develop Regulatory framework for National Emergency fund5. Develop Strategies for Voluntary Response force
6. Develop a Relief Distribution Mechanism

Develop Emergency Operations Set-up/internal Operational area design/layouts andcommunication set-ups

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Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC)RESORT PROGRAM

Public-Private Partnership model

NDMC gives technical support to resorts to develop DM Plans and build capacity



Resort makes in-kind contribution to NDMC and at risk communities tostrengthen DRR and Response capacities



NDMC gives official Disaster Resilient Resort badge to resorts who take part in
the programme

The program is conducted by trained and experienced facilitators from the Maldives
National Defense Force and the National Disaster Management Centre of the Maldives.
The program is designed to include both technical training and hands on exercises toensure that resort management and staff would develop an understanding andknowledge of coordinating and controlling chaotic emergency situations due to naturaland manmade hazards.

The objectives of the program are as follows:•

Understand disaster risk management concepts•

Undertake vulnerability capacity assessments for effective disaster
preparedness and disaster risk reduction•

Establishment of an Incident Command System•

Develop basic understanding of fire awareness•

Development of a fire fighting squad•

Build awareness on maritime safety•

Understand and develop maritime safety skills such as search and rescue,
swimming rescue, seamanship, etc•

Support develop multi-hazard Emergency operations Plan

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Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC)ADRC COUNTERPART IN THE MALDIVESName of Focal Point:
Position:

Ms. Fathimath Thasneem

Deputy Minister of Defence and National Security
National Disaster Management Centre
H. Rihijehi Koshi, Ameenee Magu, Male’ / Republic of MaldivesWebsite:www.ndmc.gov.mv

Email:

info@ndmc.gov.mv

Telephone:(+960) 3333437, (+960) 3333470

Fax:(+960) 3333443

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