PRESS RELEASE 4th OCTOBER 2005

Population: 963
Salinity of water: 85%, 120%, 180% (taken randomly from wells over the island)

Background by Ms Mariyam Seena (Male based Maldives Aid co-ordinator):

“Most of the wells are smelly, salty and not drinkable at all. Among the houses in the islands 10% of them have water wells that are drinkable and not smelly. People are using some of the wells that are unhygienic for drinking and cooking. Since usable water is scarce they have no choice but to use the unhygienic water anyway.”

Maldives Aid working in partnership with Friends of Maldives is delighted to announce the start of the desalinisation plant project in Filadhoo. The water from the wells in the island has been affected by salt water and sewage following the Tsunami. The island community of Filadhoo held a ceremony to celebrate the start of the project. The Island chief and Maldives Aid Maldives co-ordinator Ms Mariyam Seena laid the first bricks of the building that will house the plant. Male based company Static is the contractor to carry out the work.

The project is scheduled for completion within two months and will cost in the region of $70 000. Static will provide training to the community to maintain the plant.

Emergency Water to Maibadhoo

Report by Ms Mariyam Seena:

“Maabaidhoo Island in Laamu atoll was one of the worst hit Tsunami islands, leaving 532 people homeless and 56 houses totally damaged.

The tsunami victims living in the temporary shelters of the island are unable to use the water due to the bad smell and unhygienic conditions of the tap water.
The victims have to carry water for their daily usage from the far end of the island, collecting it from their friend’s houses undamaged and provided with water tanks which collect rain water. The water from the wells is too salty for consumption.

UNICEF provided the island with 2500 litres-capacity-water tank. Being used daily in large quantities the tanks have been empty for the past two months.

Since there has been very little rain, the tanks have not been refilled and consequently the population suffered from drought.

The community of this island made an appeal to the atoll office and to the Disaster Management Centre unit of the atoll, but their request was ignored.

Denasalized water from the nearby island of Gan could refill the tanks from Maabaihoo as there are 11 tanks with 2500ltr capacity in each tank.

Maldives Aid as provided Maabaidhoo with 7500 ltires (3 tanks full) of emergency water, bought from the island of Gan. However this quantity will only last the people for a few weeks.

End of report

According to Nicola Witt - Maldives Aid UK co-ordinator – “It does seem strange that the people of Maibadhoo had no choice but to contact the Salisbury office of Maldives Aid, halfway across the world to get emergency drinking water supplied to them from a nearby island. Of course we were delighted to be able to help them. However we urge the NDMC to ensure that the people of Maibadhoo have adequate drinking water and provision is made for a more permanent supply of drinking water as soon as possible.”

Books to Island Schools

Last month, Maldives Aid has been able to provide 542 books dispatched between 4 schools throughout the Maldives: Thundi School, Mukurimagu School, Maabaidhoo School in Laamu Atoll and Baarah School in Haa Alif Atoll. The books were purchased from suppliers in the island capital Male’. Maldives Aid hopes that this small contribution to the libraries of the schools will enable the children victims of the Tsunami to continue with their studies.

Maldives Aid pursues a policy to purchase materials for its projects in the Maldives from local suppliers, in an effort to assist the local economy.

Concern continues over the distribution of Maldives Aid Educational Aid

Maldives Aid is concerned about the distribution of Educational Aid collected by the children of the UK. The government stated that Maldives Aid would be fully involved in the distribution of the Happy Buckets holding the Aid. This was not the case.

Reports have been made that the buckets had been tampered with, and items removed, including the FOM Aid stickers and the lids. Despite repeated attempts to find out where the buckets have been distributed the Disaster Management Centre have not been forthcoming.

According to Maldives Aid volunteer Denise Hallet: “It is unfortunate that the government have not stood by their agreement to work alongside Maldives Aid to ensure that the Aid is distributed according to the wishes of Maldives Aid. We have no idea where the Happy Buckets have been distributed or if the aid has been given to the children who are in need.”

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Maldives Aid UK spokesperson: David Hardingham +44 (0)7812 166453
64 Milford Street
Salisbury
SP1 2BP
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)1722 504330
E: enquiries@friendsofmaldives.org
W: www.friendsofmaldives.org

NOTES TO EDITORS:
The objective of Maldives Aid is to relieve persons in the Maldives who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress as a result of natural disaster or who by reason of their social and economic conditions are in need of assistance.

For more information on the tsunami recovery and Maldives Aid projects, please check our website www.friendsofmaldives.org

Charity number: 1108658