An announcement has been made for the development of an Emergency Operations Coordination Centre (EOCC) to strengthen emergency response efforts in the Maldives.
The EOCC will be the first dedicated centre of its kind in the country, established specifically to coordinate emergency operations. At present, emergency coordination services are provided by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
The Emergency Operations Coordination Centre is being developed under the supervision of the NDMA and will be located on the third floor of the authority’s existing Rihijehi Koshi building.
The centre will include a call centre, a data centre, and an administrative section. Development of the facility is being supported by the World Bank under the Maldives Urban Development and Resilience Project.
The deadline for submission of bids for the project is 12 February.
The World Bank’s assistance aims to strengthen the emergency response system in the Maldives. The country continues to make significant efforts to enhance this system, as the most frequent emergency responses are related to rainfall. Emergency assistance has also been extensively provided during various fire incidents.
In addition, a National Emergency Operations Centre was previously established to coordinate assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In August 2024, a single national helpline was introduced for all emergency agencies, enabling easier coordination and cooperation among institutions.
The Maldives Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy 2024–2030 has also been approved to mitigate damage caused by natural disasters. The primary objective of the strategy is to protect the Maldives’ environment and infrastructure from weather-related and other disasters.
The strategy further aims to safeguard homes and property, enhance disaster preparedness, build a disaster-resilient society, and support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).