Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief Workshop Kick-Started By Minister Mariya Didi

The government's overall vision for the defense of the Maldives, according to Minister of Defense Ms. Mariya Didi, includes disaster risk mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. To realize this vision, the Maldives needs the assistance of its international partners.
 
Minister Mariya made the comments during the opening ceremony of the workshop on humanitarian aid and disaster relief, which was put on by Hawaii's Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance and the National Disaster Management Authority of the Maldives (CFE-DM). Multi-agency coordination in disaster response and humanitarian assistance will be the main topic of the three-day workshop.

 
With an increase in reported instances of damage from floods, strong winds, swells, storm surges, and other extreme weather events, Minister Mariya noted in her remarks that global warming and its effects pose an existential threat to the Maldives. The Minister also mentioned the potential harm that chemical fires and shipwrecks could do to the nation's urban and natural environments. When responding to such emergencies, the minister emphasized the value of multi-agency coordination.
 
The Minister also thanked President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for establishing the National Disaster Management Authority in accordance with the Statute and giving the NDMA the freedom to set its own priorities for planning and budgeting. The US Government, the US Indo-Pacific Command, and the CFE-DM were also thanked by the Minister for their quick action in giving the Maldives' request priority and bringing about the program's implementation within six months.

 

“Maldivians are a resilient people. We accept our geographic uniqueness. Our struggle is to protect our islands for future generations through effective adaptation and mitigation measures. I am mindful that those present here are disaster managers and responders; and our focus is on swift, efficient and coordinated response when disasters strike,” concluded Minister Mariya.
 
The opening ceremony of the workshop was attended by Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Mission to Maldives Ms. Andrea Appell, Indian High Commissioner to Maldives H.E. Munu Mahawar, CFE-DM’s Regional Humanitarian Civil-Military Advisor Mr Josh Szimonisz, MNDF Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal and NDMA’s Chief Executive Mr Hisan Hassan.

[Photos: Ministry of Defense]