Executive Summary

On 15th May, and for four subsequent days, powerful swells hit many islands throughout the Maldives. According to the Department of Meteorology, the swells were generated by waves between 10 - 15 feet from a dissipated polar storm 3,500 miles south west of Maldives (near 50S, off the coast of South Africa). After generation, the waves traveled northeast for a few thousands kilometres and for a few days (the longest wavelengths travel the fastest) across the Indian Ocean.

Following appeals from the southern island

Tsunami waves ranging between one and five metres high were reported in all parts of Maldives. The force of the waves caused widespread infrastructure devastation in the islands, 80 percent of which are less than one metre above sea level. One in three of the Maldives' 290,000 residents were affected by the tsunami. Homes were destroyed, livelihoods lost and infrastructure damaged on 69 of 199 inhabited islands, including Fonadhoo, pictured here. According to the Government, 29,577 residents were displaced by the tsunami. Approximately

INTRODUCTION

The tsunami which hit Maldives on 26 December, 2004 was a nation-wide disaster which caused severe damage to the physical infrastructure of many islands. The tsunami has set back the high levels of social progress and prosperity achieved in recent years. Total damages are estimated to be US$470 million, 62% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Of these losses, direct losses are $298 million, or about 8% of the replacement cost of the national capital stock. Severe damage was caused to houses, tourist resorts, boats and other fishing equipment,

1. The tsunami that struck on the morning of the 26th December 2004 was the worst disaster to have ever hit the Republic of the Maldives - 82 people lost their lives, and a further 26 people are still missing. Of the 200 inhabited islands, available data indicates that 69 were completely flooded, 17 were half flooded, and 27 and 24 suffered one third and minimal flooding respectively. In 51 islands, an estimated 4,000 homes and buildings were damaged or destroyed.

2. The Government responded to