The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has announced that drainage pumps donated by the government of Japan have been officially handed over to 18 islands across the Maldives, marking the first round of the Economic and Social Development Project aimed at strengthening the nation’s climate‑change resilience.
Frequent heavy rainfall and rising sea levels have turned flooding into a pressing threat for the low‑lying archipelago.
Under the first phase of the project, 40 high‑capacity drainage‑irrigation pumps have arrived in the country. Each of the 20 islands targeted in this phase will receive two pumps, together with ancillary equipment such as control panels, spare parts and protective housings.
To date, the pumps have been delivered to 18 islands—the remaining two islands—Kudarikilu and Maafaru—are expected to receive their allocations in the coming days.
The NDMA stressed that the pumps are only one component of a broader government strategy. Storm‑water management and drainage systems are being installed in flood‑prone areas, with completed installations already operational in the capital, Male’, and several major islands. Simultaneously, early‑warning networks are being upgraded to provide faster, more accurate alerts ahead of impending storms.