Four
thousand people were left homeless when the 2004 tsunami rolled
across the tiny island of Kandholhudhoo in the Maldives. Today,
they are watching a whole new community being created for them
in nearby Dhuvaafaru, a previously uninhabited tropical island.
It is one of the most ambitious projects undertaken by the International
Federation as part of the tsunami recovery process so far. Some
600 houses will be built, along with community buildings including
schools, an administrative centre, sports ground, guest house
and hospital. Some of the buildings will be two stories tall
to serve as a refuge against sea surges.
Site works have been in progress for some time but ground-breaking
events took place in early May at a ceremony to put down the
first foundation stones. Laid by the International Federation’s
special representative for the tsunami operation, Johan Schaar,
and the Maldivian president, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the stones
pave the way for a return to normal, safe living conditions
in just over a year from now.
More than 2,000 people attended the ceremony. They arrived by
the dozens on traditional “dhoni” fishing boats,
which are the mainstay of transport in this archipelago of over
1,000 islands in the Indian Ocean.
Among the participants was Iasath Hassan, a mother of five who
has been living in two-room temporary accommodation since the
tsunami struck.
“Everything was destroyed within 10 minutes,” she
recalls. “The children were saved only by going to buildings
with two floors… I don't ever want to go back."
Working with the government, the community and contractors,
the International Federation has gone to great lengths to ensure
that Dhuvaafaru’s environment is preserved.
Water will be supplied through rainwater harvesting and desalination,
while electricity will come from solar and possibly also wind
power. The community has been consulted throughout the planning
process and their desire to stay together and to be near their
former homes was given top priority.
"We'll have a better life here,” said Iasath. “This
is a better island." Her neighbour is equally enthusiastic.
"We are not worried by how long this process might take,”
she said. “You can't rush things… it takes time
to grow a tree."
Johan Schaar of the International Federation used the occasion
to highlight the plight of internally displaced persons all
over the world. "In our experience, unfortunately, the
so-called internally displaced sometimes become second class
citizens, neglected by governments and unable to exercise their
rights,” he said. “But they do remain citizens of
their country and they have the same rights as everyone else."
He stressed that while the decision to relocate populations
was “difficult and delicate,” a good solution had
been found in this case.
President Gayoom said he shared the “deepest gratitude”
felt by the people of the Maldives towards the public worldwide,
whose donations made up 80 per cent of all tsunami relief.
The Maldivian minister for planning and national development,
Hamdun Hameed, commended the work of the Federation and other
organisations.
The Maldives is one of the few countries left in the world without
a Red Cross or Red Crescent society. The working group in charge
of forming the new society, along with the International Federation
and staff from participating national societies, held a fun
run and concert in the capital of Male' to commemorate World
Red Cross Red Crescent day on 8 May.
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Iasath
and Vifa Hassan, who are eagerly anticipating their new
homes on Dhuvaafaru Island. (p14025)
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Birds-eye
view of Dhuvaafaru Island in the Maldives, where the Federation
is building over 600 homes for people displaced by the
2004 tsunami. (p14026)
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President
Gayoom of the Maldives and Federation special representative
Johan Schaar layed the foundation stone for the first
of 600 houses on Dhuvaafaru Island in the Maldives. (p14027)
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A
member of the Bodeberu drum troupe gets into the groove
at a special concert following a fun run for World Red
Cross Red Crescent Day in the Maldivian capital Male'.
(p14028)
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