Emergency centres to be developed in atolls to tackle disasters

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) states efforts are underway to develop regional emergency operation centres in some Maldivian regions to provide assistance in overcoming disasters.

Speaking at SSTV’s ‘Baaru Hathareh’ program, NDMA’s CEO Hisaan Hassan underscored the importance of established arrangements to provide assistance to individuals residing in atolls in cases of disasters.

He underscored the difficulties currently faced in providing assistance during disasters to regions that are further away.

In light of this, Hisaan said efforts have been commenced to establish regional emergency operation centres in some areas which would be operated by NDMA, alongside other first responders such as Maldives Police Service and Maldives Red Crescent.

“We want to see a day where the necessary equipment required to respond in case of disasters such as pumps, pipes among other things are readily available,” he added.

Hisaan emphasized that NDMA was undertaking efforts to address difficulties currently faced while responding to disasters.

Despite this, he said NDMA, during various incidents, works to provide assistance to atolls in the timeliest manner with the resources and services available from parties acting as first responders.

NDMA provides assistance to individuals impacted by disasters after conducting damage assessments. In this regard, they assist in the provision of temporary housing, if required, and food clothes and other necessities.