Maldives pave way for National Red Crescent Society

The President of the Republic of Maldives has ratified a bill that lays the legal foundation to create a National Red Crescent Society in the island nation.

"The humanitarian work of the Red Cross Red Crescent in the Maldives, following the tsunami, has been amazing", the country's President Mohamed Nasheed, emphasized as he ratified a bill that lays the legal foundation to create a National Red Crescent Society in the island nation. "The people of the Maldives would like to see continuous engagement of the Red Cross Red Crescent in their islands."

Besides endorsing the formation of a local Red Crescent Society, the ratification of the Maldivian Red Crescent Act, on 7 May 2009, is a clear recognition of the humanitarian work that Red Cross Red Crescent has done in the country.

"The Maldivian Red Crescent bill will provide a firm legal framework for [the Red Cross Red Crescent] operations in the Maldives", President Nasheed added.

The lack of a National Society was felt

Per Jensnaes, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) delegation in the Maldives, remembers that when the tsunami struck in 2004 it took many hours to reach outlying islands from the capital, Male'. "I remember that while the IFRC and some of its members quickly responded by providing life-saving relief supplies", he said, "the absence of a local National Society was felt immediately by the massive relief operation", he added.

"Island communities are significantly isolated from each other" Jensnaes added, "had the Maldivian Red Crescent been in existence then, its volunteers in the atoll branches or island units would have responded immediately and ensured a quicker response to the benefit of affected communities."

The strength of local communities

The head of delegation noted that experience has proven that local communities and volunteers are best placed to assist themselves, to become better prepared for and to respond to natural disasters because they come from those communities and are, therefore, perfectly placed to know what their community's vulnerabilities.

With the legal foundation of the Maldivian Red Crescent firmly established, the society's first General Assembly is scheduled for 16 August 2009. Among others, the General Assembly will elect a governing board and adopt the National Society's statutes and rules of procedures, signaling the birth of a new member of the Red Cross Red Crescent family.

Once operational, the new National Society will strive, through voluntary action, to address human suffering in the Maldives as an auxiliary to public authorities. Like 186 other National Societies around the world, the Maldivian Red Crescent will adhere to the seven fundamental principles of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Source: reliefweb.int

Maldives: Appeal No. MAAMV001 - Annual report 2008

In a world of global challenges, continued poverty, inequity, and increasing vulnerability to disasters and disease, the International Federation – with its global network – works to accomplish its Global Agenda, partnering with local community and civil society to prevent and alleviate human suffering from disasters, diseases and public health emergencies.

In brief

Programme purpose: All 2008 programmes were focused on creating the environment for a local national society to be established and begin its work.

Programmes summary: The tsunami recovery programmes provided an opportunity for Red Cross Red Crescent work to be visible to the Maldivian community: thus, establishing goodwill and better understanding about its humanitarian nature. This understanding opened the way to support the formation of a Maldivian national society, a process which has been going on since September 2005. The International Federation continued supporting the interim planning group (IPG), which was tasked to steer the Maldivian Red Crescent formation process; a Red Crescent Bill was submitted to the People's Majlis [parliament] in November 2008.

Implementation of disaster management programme activities progressed well on all the 11 targeted islands. Specifically, community-based disaster management (CBDM), vulnerability capacity assessment (VCA) and first aid trainings were facilitated. Target island communities drew up emergency contingency and disaster risk reduction plans. First aid and sea search and rescue trainings were delivered to community volunteers while first aid training was also conducted for interested organizations, resorts and companies.

Collaboration with the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) resulted in the approval of new International Federation-produced guidelines for island disaster management mobilization and organization. The collaboration also promoted the participation of NDMC in the development of a CBDM training manual for government officers.

Promotion of the Fundamental Principles, humanitarian values, and the mandate of the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement was also prioritized in the first half of the year. This included creating awareness on the role the Maldivian Red Crescent will be playing once it becomes operational. Exposition of the Principles and values formed an integral part of all programmes.

Financial situation: The initial budget for 2008 was CHF 1,683,000 (USD 1,595,700 or EUR 1,125,000). It was later reduced to CHF 228,265 (USD 216,400 or EUR 152,600), which was 100 per cent covered. The revision was done because activities implemented during the first half of the year were funded through the tsunami recovery operation since funding for Appeal 2008-2009 came during the second quarter of 2008. This also took into consideration that a local national society had not been formally constituted by end 2008. Total expenditure for the year was CHF 224,241 (USD 212,600 or EUR 149,900).

No. of people we help: Appeal 2008-2009 programmes reached over 24,000 beneficiaries during 2008. This number is expected to increase over the coming year as the Maldivian Red Crescent will target to reach to a quarter of the Maldivian population – approximately 75,000 people.

Our partners: The National Disaster Management Centre, Ministry of Atolls Development, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ministry of Youth, island authorities, American Red Cross, British Red Cross, Canadian Red Cross, French Red Cross, Hong Kong branch of the Red Cross Society of China, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

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Source: reliefweb.int

Final steps to recovery in the Maldives

Power is on its way to the island of Vilufushi as the final phase of work on the British Red Cross recovery programme in the Maldives begins.

Vilufushi was so devastated by the tsunami that a land reclamation project had to be carried out prior to reconstruction. In August 2007, the British Red Cross started building 250 houses. For the displaced households, the power project brings hope – by spring next year they will be able to move back to their island and into their new homes.

Zahid Jameel, the Maldivian consultant who designed the power system, is confident of its quality. “It has been challenging and has taken a lot of time looking into all the details and working with the Ministry for Energy and Water. We have done the best from what is available and now I am happy with the end result.”

Training scheme

Both the power station and the treatment plant for the sewage system will require maintenance once the British Red Cross leaves the island next year.

Local people are being trained in important technical positions and the community is being encouraged to take it on as a business enterprise. There will also be jobs in billing and collection of payments.

Russell Bryce, British Red Cross utilities manager, said: “There is a lot of opportunity and hopefully it will be run like a business, but will take into account people who can’t afford to pay much, such as the elderly. The idea is to generate enough funds to maintain the systems if they need any repairs and to pay a salary to those doing the work.”

New school

The British Red Cross is also building a new school on Vilufushi and on 7 August, a ceremony to mark the start of construction was attended by some of the children who come from the island.

“After three years and seven months I got to see my home island and I was so happy to be there. It looks so different from before,” said Aishath Naafia, studying in grade 10. “I am proud that we will have a bigger school, better facilities and I hope, good teachers too. I had the honor of participating in the ceremony and it felt so good. It’s the first time in my life that I had an opportunity like this.”

The displaced population from Vilufushi have been living on Buruni island, where currently 410 students attend a school that used to accommodate 90. Usman Afzah, studying in grade nine, said: “I feel so bad living in a tent like this for more than three years after the tsunami. We lost our freedom and our own space. But since I visited my home island again, all these bad feelings have disappeared because I have seen a completely different Vilufushi.”

Source: www.redcross.org.uk