"The
International Federation is a true friend of the Maldives,"
declared the national environment and water minister, Ahmed
Abdullah, as he dug the first symbolic shovel into the sandy
soil to mark the start of Maafushi Island’s first sewerage
system.
"You are helping us to rebuild our lives for the better
and you have given us new hope,” he added. “We applaud
this remarkable example of humanitarian spirit which transcends
all boundaries."
The tiny Indian Ocean island of Maafushi is home to 1,200 people
and was extensively damaged during the December 2004 tsunami,
which displaced one tenth of the population of the Maldives.
Apart from battering almost every building, the surge of water
also played havoc with the island's small reservoir of fresh
water and its rudimentary sewerage system. Nineteen months on,
almost every damaged house has been repaired or replaced –
14 of them by the International Federation – and work
has started on a brand new sewerage system jointly funded by
the Irish and American Red Cross Societies.
The project is part of a USD $7.5 million programme which will
see hundreds of new and repaired houses on three islands hooked
up to sewage pipes. The Hong Kong branch of the Red Cross Society
of China is also a partner on the Southern island of Gan, where
the French Red Cross is building houses for tsunami displaced.
"This is a real first for us," said the International
Federation’s head of delegation in the Maldives, Jerry
Talbot. "The Federation has built municipal sewerage schemes
before, notably after the Turkey earthquakes of the late 90s,
but this is the first time we've built small bore schemes like
this on islands,” he added.
“This marks a real turning point for the Maldives, which
is making a strong recovery from the 2004 tsunami."
Maafushi is only 260 metres wide and you can walk across it
in less time than it takes to read this article. The tsunami
submerged the entire island for up to five minutes, and, not
surprisingly, some of the older residents, like 70-year-old
Aminath Aboobaker, remember that day vividly.
"I was sweeping the streets when I heard a crow caw so
loudly that I felt something was wrong,” she says, staring
out at the calm blue sea – the same sea that brought such
destruction to the island 19 months ago.
“I went home and the crow seemed to follow me… I
was sitting in the house and I could hear him crowing and crowing,”
she recounts. “I really felt something bad was about to
happen so I rushed out of the house and saw the water coming
through the palm trees.
“I saw a child in the street and grabbed his hand,”
Aminath contiues. “The water was almost up to the mosque
in the middle of the island. We were swept off our feet but
luckily we were carried into the mosque and were safe. Then
the water started to go down after a few minutes."
Her older neighbour, Adam Ali, was working as a carpenter on
a nearby resort island when the wave struck.
"I’ll never forget it," he says. "We could
see a place where there was no water. Then suddenly, the sea
rushed in again. We were told not to go into any of the buildings
since they might collapse on us. Then we got news that our own
island had been hit too.
“I was very worried for my family… I have nine children
and 30 grandchildren, and I couldn’t get a boat back to
Maafushi until much later that night. Everyone was well, they
all helped each other."
Both of these elderly people have found that since the tsunami,
sewage has been backing up in their toilets, and the groundwater,
previously pure and sweet, has become brackish and foul-smelling.
They are both glad to see the new sewerage scheme beginning
and they’re grateful for the private donations that have
covered the cost.
In his address to islanders, the environment and water minister
echoed their “magnanimous thanks,” but warned that
“the honeymoon period is over”.
“We cannot go on seeking and getting foreign aid,”
said Ahmed Abdullah. “We must work hard for our living.”
Two-thirds of the Maldives GDP was wiped out in 2005 due to
the drop in revenue from tourism and fishing, and the extra
strain on resources.
The economy has rebounded strongly in 2006, with one million
visitors projected annually by 2010, and 18 per cent economic
growth in 2007.
The International Federation and six partner National Societies
are working to help the people of the Maldives on the road to
recovery by supporting housing and infrastructure construction
and repair, water and sanitation projects, waste management
schemes, livelihood activities, disaster management, and by
working with the displaced.
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Maldives
Environment and Water Minister, Ahmed Abdullah, and the
International Federation’s head of delegation in
the Maldives, Jerry Talbot, dig symbolic shovels into
Maafushi Island’s sandy soil to mark the beginning
of an extensive programme to provide municipal sewerage
schemes on four Maldivian islands. (p14498)
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Seventy-year-old
Aminath Aboobaker, from Maafushi Island, sensed something
was wrong and ran for safety as the tsunami hit. "We
were swept off our feet but luckily we were carried to
the mosque and were safe." (p14499)
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The
International Federation supplementary water supply system
(desalination plant) in Thulusdhoo Island will bring safe
water to 5,000 people. The Irish Red Cross is the main
donor for the programme, which will see sewerage systems
installed on four Maldivian islands. (p14494)
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Irish
Red Cross Chairwoman, Carmel Dunne, hands over the keys
to a new home on Maafushi Island to its proud owner. This
is one of 14 International Federation-built homes on the
island that will be connected to a municipal sewerage
scheme. (p14492)
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New
International Federation houses on Kudahuvadhoo Island.
Each house will be hooked up to a sewerage scheme funded
by the Irish Red Cross and have rainwater harvesting tanks
installed. (p14489)
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News
