Maabaidhoo island at Laamu atoll was one of the worst tsunami hit island, leaving 532 people homeless and 56 houses totally damaged.
The tsunami victims living in the temporary shelters of the island are unable to use the water due to the bad smell and unhygienic conditions of the tap water.
The shelters were built near the damaged sewage system have access to polluted water only. The victims have to carry water for their daily usage from the far end of the island, collecting it from their friend’s houses undamaged and provided with water tanks which collect rain water. The water from the wells is too salty for consumption.
UNICEF provided the island with 2500 litres-capacity-water tank. Being used daily in large quantities the tanks have been empty for the past two months.
Since there has been very little rain, the tanks have not been refilled and consequently the population suffered from drought.
The community of this island made an appeal to the atoll office and to the Disaster Management Centre unit of the atoll, but their request was ignored.
Denasalized water from the nearby island of Gan could refill with the tanks from Maabaihoo as there are 11 tanks with 2500ltr capacity in each tank.
Maldives Aid as provided Maabaidhoo with 7500 ltires (3 tanks full) of emergency water, bought from the island of Gan. However this quantity will only last the people for a few weeks. |
Aid history 
