Disaster Management Council passes ‘Maldives Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy’

National Disaster Management Council, on Tuesday, has passed ‘Maldives Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy 2024 – 2030’.

The Council, chaired by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, passed the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategy during a meeting held at the President’s Office on Tuesday morning.

The DRR Strategy is mainly focused on protecting Maldives’ environment and safeguarding its citizens’ properties and assets from natural and other disasters. It is also aimed at preparing for disasters in advance and building a society prepared to tackle such situations while attaining sustainable development goals.

According to the President’s Office, the implementation of the Strategy will pave the way to reduce damages that can be or are caused by disasters and to develop human resources in this sector.

The Office further said the National Disaster Management Council greenlighted such a strategy as it would also allow Maldives, in its capacity as an advocate for the challenges faced by low-lying nations due to climate change, with additional opportunities to promote the issue.

The formulation of Maldives Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy is the fifth goal of the seven goals in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030).

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction emphasizes the implementation of measures that tackle the three dimensions of disaster risk: exposure to hazards, vulnerability and capacity, and the characteristics of hazards. Its goal is to prevent the emergence of new risks, reduce existing risks, and enhance resilience. It was adopted by the United Nations (UN) member states during the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan back in March 2015.

Notably, Maldives is among the few nations that have introduced such a strategy concerning effort that can undertaken in terms of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

One of the annexes under the strategy is centered upon streamlining efforts to reduce waste by linking the National Adaptation Plan under the Paris Agreement and DRR strategy under the Sendai framework.