The Disaster Management Steering Committee has convened for its third meeting of the year, marking a significant step forward in the country's risk reduction strategy as stakeholders began technical consultations on the final draft of the comprehensive Disaster Management Plan.
Formulated under the statutory mandates of the Disaster Management Act, the national plan is designed to minimise damage from natural and man-made disasters facing the Maldives. It establishes a robust framework to bolster national recovery efforts, streamline emergency operations, and enhance systemic resilience across the island nation.
The high-level meeting brought together senior officials and technical experts from member institutions to review the finalised draft and contribute expert insights. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the primary goal of the consultation was to gather critical feedback to refine the document before its official submission to the Disaster Management Council. Once finalised, the plan will explicitly outline the roles and responsibilities of individual agencies during crisis situations, providing clear operational guidance and ensuring swift assistance.
Alongside this overarching national framework, the NDMA is actively pushing forward with localised preparedness measures. Work is currently underway to draft island-level emergency response plans and establish specialised frontline response teams across the archipelago.
These Emergency Response Teams are receiving tailored training through the NDMA’s Community Resilience Building Program—a key initiative aimed at fostering disaster-prepared and proactive communities at the grass-roots level.