The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)has revealed the drafting of a five-year strategic action plan aiming to establish a system or make arrangements to ensure the provision of enhanced services and assistance nationwide, at times of disasters.
As part of this effort, the NDMA has launched a four-day programme titled "Maldives Tsunami Ready Training and Preserving 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami Stories." This programme aims to prepare communities for catastrophic events like tsunamis and is being conducted in collaboration with UNESCO's Indian Ocean Tsunami Information Centre (IOTIC), Indonesia's meteorology centre, and the Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWS). The program will address various topics, including public awareness, identifying vulnerable groups, and strategies for providing effective assistance during emergencies and adverse weather conditions.
Speaking at the ceremony held to launch the programme, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NDMA Hisaan Hussain highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen disaster prevention and monitoring systems. He also noted that previous initiatives focused on the policies and responsibilities of disaster management authorities. Recognising the challenges posed by the Maldives' dispersed islands, Hussain emphasized the importance of the new strategic action plan.
This initiative aims to emphasise the importance of collaborative efforts to prevent disastrous events. The programme will be attended by employees of the NDMA, the National Tsunami Warning Centre, the Local Disaster Management Organisation and non-governmental organisations, universities, and other individuals working in the field.