Tidal wave Disaster in Maldives. Whole Island communities and
live hood destroyed. Premonition to the Disappearance of the Beautiful Country but first we Need Help
The most Populated region the Southern part of Maldives and the many inhabited islands belonging to these group of atolls has been hit by tidal waves on the 14th
and 15th of May. The waves according to a local newspaper Haveeru has not relished, and has received reports of new surge
of waves coming in midnight last night. The waves in its wake have left some island destroyed
and uninhabitable. So far according to the latest reports total of 18 atolls of the 19 inhabited atolls of Maldives and some 60 islands in these atolls have been severely affected by tidal waves.
In some of the worst hit islands of Huvadhoo atoll like Faress Maathoda, the islanders in a desperate attempt to save themselves
and in fear of life has to abandon the water ridden island, homes and belongings
and take board of anchored ships and boats where they have to stay in wait for
any kind of help to arrive. In many of the worst hit islands people’s belongings were either displaced or swept away
and the houses permanently damaged, disintegrated with the force of water.
The government endangered and pre-occupied by the ongoing party political warfare was said to
be slow in responding with any kind of help. The ongoing political pre-occupation also failed the government to wake up to
news of such tidal wave affects in the region where lives were lost, prior to Maldives been hit and thus failed to warn the people.
The saddest part of it allow is when the islanders appealed for help, to the only they know the
government; authorities in the islands and police force, both parties responded saying that it is not their responsibility.
So people in need of immediate emergency help has to first fully investigate
and identify which government body or authority they should ask for help. In a time when not only internal but appeals for
external emergency help, aid and logistics need to be made to help those victims affected, our government and media is giving more attention to developments
made by the parliament on the reform process, who has left and who is appointed seemed to be the talk of the town.
There are reports that the sea has claimed the islands and some of these islands are 2.6 feet
under water. The sea level of the country has risen by six inches. If this is true, the islands of Maldives only 1.3 metres above sea level have a lot to worry about.
As an individual concerned about the welfare of our people I appeal to international agencies
and aid organisation such as Red Cross to make the first attempt towards helping these people. As I strongly feel while the
government in an attempt as not to draw any negative attention to itself due to pressure from international communities over
the reform process is staying silent, is not taking into account the sufferings of the victims into account at all. If 60
island communities are hit there is a humanitarian crisis’s in Maldives and I hope it will be realised acknowledged and prioritised by all the aid agencies
of the world as soon as possible. Thus I hope in no time that such organisations will attempt to find out the scale of devastation
in Maldives and try to provide the help these victims need desperately.
It is your call.
