Imagine
living through the tsunami and having over 290,000 cubic metres
of waste and debris left behind as a constant reminder, an obstacle
to recovery, and a dangerous health risk. It would be a serious
challenge for any country, but specially for the Maldives, a
country made up of over 1,100 islands spread across more than
800 kilometres.
Large piles of tsunami debris remaining in the Maldives, such
as: broken glass, battery acid and rubble from destroyed buildings
can cause numerous health problems amongst the population. Incidences
of injury and illness can be especially prevalent among children
who are drawn to playing around the large, colourful mounds.
Water sitting in the beachside rubbish attracts rats and mosquitoes
- carriers of the steadily growing dengue fever problem, which
has struck children in 65 per cent of cases. Once chemicals
and heavy metals seep into the ground, the water supply becomes
contaminated as do fish - a major food staple and source of
income.
However these problems are being helped by an 11.3 million Swiss
francs joint venture between the Canadian and Australian Red
Cross, according to the coordinator of the Fulidhoo Island health
post in the Maldives, Shakeela Ibrahim.
“It is so important what the Red Cross is doing,”
says Shakeela, “We need to inform people about the prevention
of diseases now that we have the waste management centres.”
The Australian and Canadian Red Cross are building waste management
centres on 74 islands in the Maldives. These centres ensure
the environmentally safe cleanup of tsunami debris, while also
introducing an ongoing solid waste management system for domestic
garbage.
“We helped to kick start a longer term sustainable waste
management program in the Maldives. There is a lot more to be
accomplished but it is exciting to be a part of the ground work,”
says Canadian Red Cross Head of Delegation Donna Chanda.
Dramatic clean-ups have now been completed on 19 of the hardest
hit islands with plans to continue with the remaining 55 in
need. So far, over 24,777 cubic metres of tsunami debris and
dangerous waste have been removed.
Shredders provided at each centre reduce the accumulation of
organic waste, which is 60 per cent of the island’s total
garbage, and what is left will be used for composting. Local
labour and training are components of the project to educate
the population about the new system.
To support these activities, Shakeela and 11 other local volunteers
have been providing waste management training in association
with the Red Cross. Groups of local volunteers are being trained
and heading out on door-to-door education tours carrying bags
and stickers with “reduce reuse recycle” printed
in the local Dhivehi language.
Canadian Red Cross aid worker, Tanya Grygaski presented Deputy
Island Chief Abdullahi Jaleel with a certificate to officially
hand over the functioning of the Fulihdoo centre, along with
the tools needed for its operation, to the community.
“It’s so satisfying to work on a project like this
where you can be involved every step of the way and see the
direct impact on the community,” says Tanya.
The momentum that the project has generated has not gone unnoticed
by other funding agencies. The European Union, through linkages
to the World Bank, is confirming plans to commit just under
3.8 million of Swiss francs to the solid waste management sector
in the Maldives.
|
 |
(p14882)
|
|
|
Before
(p14882) and after. An example of the impact of the Red
Cross waste management program on the island of Guraidhoo
in the Maldives. (p14883)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Local
volunteer, Shakeela during a door-to-door education tour
teaching residents of the Maldives about waste management.
(p14884)
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Canadian
Red Cross delegate, Tanya Grygaski officially hands over
the functioning of the Fulihdoo centre to Deputy Island
Chief Abdullahi Jaleel. (p14885)
|
|
News
