9 May 2013 – The upcoming elections in the Maldives represent an important opportunity to move forward with its democratic transition, a senior United Nations official stressed today, as he wrapped up a three-day visit to the country.

“We are at a critical juncture in the Maldives, and the forthcoming elections will be an important step in its democratic transition,” Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, told reporters in the capital, Malé.

The entire land area of the country is only 300 sq km of which some 9 000 hectares are covered with permanent crops dominated by coconuts and only 3 990 hectares are considered arable. Practically no cereals are produced, therefore the population, estimated at 324 000 (FAOSTAT, 2012), is heavily dependent on imported food. Cereal import requirements in 2013 marketing year (January/December) are forecast at normal level of about 48 500 tonnes, consisting mainly of wheat and rice.

Severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall on Monday has forced several residents of Hoarafushi in Haa Alif atoll to evacuate their homes after flood waters damaged furniture and electrical wiring in 95 households.

Speaking to Minivan News today, Hoarafushi Island Council Chair Ahmed Mauroof said 95 households were flooded, affecting an “estimated 600 people.”

“The cost of the damage caused by flooding is expected to rise to millions,” Mauroof said, explaining that furniture and electronic equipment were damaged in the affected households.

MAAMV001

30 August 2012

This report covers the period 1 January to 30 June 2012

Overview

The resignation of President of the Republic of Maldives in early February resulted in considerable political upheaval and a deteriorating security situation, which lasted for several weeks. Apart from sporadic incidents, the security situation has returned to normalcy. However, disputes between the various political parties regarding the legitimacy of the leadership of former Vice-President continue.

MAAFUSHI, Maldives, 17 May 2012 – Fathimath Nafsa takes her 2-year-old son Ismail Nashiu to the local health center on Maafushi Island for a check-up. The doctors want to monitor his growth because he is malnourished and underweight. His mother is concerned that Ismail may not grow to his full potential.

She and her husband spend hours trying to feed Ismail, but he often grows irritable and refuses food. "He stays cranky and doesn't eat enough food. He also doesn't play often with other children, and we are concerned about his growth," says Ms. Nafsa.

By Hawwa Lubna

Aishath Haseena* and her sisters, clutching empty bottles, rushed to the water tank near the mosque as soon as the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) officials finished re-filling the tank. It had been empty for over two weeks.

“Water tanks in almost all the houses are empty now. So everyone started to collect water from the public tanks. But, two weeks back, the public tanks also ran out of water,” Haseena, a resident of Hithadhoo in Addu Atoll, told Minivan News today.

By Thin Lei Win

BANGKOK (AlertNet) – A change of leaders in the Maldives should not affect the country’s much-praised climate policy and the country remains committed to becoming the world’s first carbon neutral country, a top environmental official told AlertNet.

Read the full article on AlertNet.

The Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) has completed a nine-month research into developing a model interpreting the future climatic change scenarios for the Maldives that can provide projections which can referred during national and local development planning.

RIMES, based in Bangkok, provides regional early warning services and capacity building to its member states in Africa and Asia – including Maldives- in the end-to-end early warning of tsunami and hydro-meteorological hazards.

In brief Programme outcome To support the development and delivery of relevant community-based programmes and services by the Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC). This aims to save lives, reduce and limit the most urgent underlying causes of vulnerability; promote healthy and safe living and mobilize volunteers to support capacity building and the fulfilment of its mandate.

Programme