Full Coverage: Maldives

07.11.2007 Nepal, Maldives and Libya have been removed from the annual list of Internet enemies, which Reporters Without Borders publishes today. But Egypt has been added to the roll of shame for its harassment and imprisonment of many bloggers.

10.05.2006 Proposed media legislation in Maldives needs amending if it is to protect press freedom, according to an international watchdog.

29.03.2006 Many replacement fishing vessels constructed in tsunami-affected countries are seriously sub-standard, the Food and Agriculture Organisation warned yesterday.

28.02.2006 Amnesty International has welcomed the release of prisoners of conscience Ahmad Ibrahim Didi and Naushad Waheed, but has urged the Maldivian government to take decisive action to reform the criminal justice system to prevent further politically motivated detentions in the country.

27.02.2006 A recent survey on the safety of small fishing vessels in Tamil Nadu (India), Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand has revealed that there is lack of safety-at-sea problems for fishermen not only in developed countries but also in developing countries.

15.02.2006 The Cabinet today recommended to the President for the Maldives to become party to the International Treaty on Plant and Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The decision was taken at todayÂ’s meeting of the Cabinet after members had deliberated on a paper presented by the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources.

02.02.2006 After the December 2004 tsunami, governments frequently ignored human rights principles and failed to protect survivors from discrimination, land grabbing and violence, according to a five-country study by three international charities.

06.01.2006 Reporters Without Borders accused today the Maldivian government of repeatedly manipulating Interpol after ten Sri Lankan police officers raided the Colombo premises of an exile radio station and website, radio Minivan and Minivannews.com, on 28 December in a search for arms that was prompted by baseless claims by the Maldivian authorities.

12.12.2005 President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has said that the recovery of key economic and commercial sectors such as fisheries was a crucial factor in overall efforts to attain full national recovery from the devastating effects of last yearÂ’s tsunami.

05.12.2005 To combat the problem, the biggest nutrition survey of its kind has been going to be conducted UNICEFand Maldives' Ministry of Health. The survey have been going carrying out a detailed study among mothers with children under 3 years old, gathering information on what kinds of food they have been feeding them.

02.12.2005 UNDP announces $ 25,000 support for livelihood recovery for the Tsunami hit areas of Maldives. The grant is will be provided through South – South grant Facility and program will be implemented through Community Organisations.

24.11.2005 MALE: President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has announced plans to launch a major programme to create more job opportunities across the nation, and to lease further islands for the development of tourist resorts.

24.11.2005 MALE: President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has announced plans to launch a major programme to create more job opportunities across the nation, and to lease further islands for the development of tourist resorts. He made the statement in his address to the nation at the Official Meeting to mark Republic Day 2005, which was held on Sunday night at Dharubaaruge.
Elaborating on the proposed programme to create more jobs, the President said that, under the programme, the government would provide special incentives to those who launch commercial activities in major development centres outside of the capital, Male. He added that the programme would focus on creating more jobs outside the capital, and to provide greater opportunities for people to secure employment closer to their residing islands.
Speaking on a raft of measures that the government was planning to introduce to revive the economy, which had slowed down considerably after the December 2004 tsunami, the President announced that further islands would be leased out for the development of tourist resorts.
Highlighting that tourism was the main income-generator in the country, the President said that government attached a very high priority to ensure that a greater percentage of the population benefited from the industry.
The President said that, among the other proposed plans for economic revival, was the introduction of a policy of expanding small and medium business in the country.
He added that a nationwide policy would be formulated, give that it was an important prerequisite of sustainable development.
Further, he said that a number of other measures were also being discussed and formulated to ensure that the national economy recovered as soon as possible.


Source:South Asia Media Net

13.10.2005 Maldives was the smallest country hit by last December’s tsunami, but in relative terms it suffered the sharpest blow. Now, more than nine months on, the country is facing severe budget and economic problems – triggered by the tsunami and rising oil prices – despite repaired tourist resorts and gradually increasing numbers of tourists.

09.05.2005

Pondicherry fishing village after the tsunami © M S Swaminathan Research Foundation

Latest report from the World Health Organization (WHO) puts the number of people displaced by last weekendÂ’s the tidal waves at five million. Eleven countries across six time zones were affected, including Seychelles, Kenya and Tanzania. More than 80,000 people are confirmed dead, with more than 32,000 occurring in the Indonesian regions of Aceh and north Sumatra. Nearly 30 international organizations are already providing relief services in different communities. The UN launched an initial appeal for $130 million ahead of a much vaster appeal scheduled for January 6.

18.03.2005 The World Bank approved US$14 million to the Maldives to assist the country to provide social services, restore lost livelihoods, and continue to build capacity to implement the reconstruction and rehabilitation program of the tsunami affected country.

07.01.2005 The Maldivian government and residents are working out if it makes sense to live on hundreds of low-lying coral islands scattered across 620 miles of the ocean. Every citizen lives within a few hundred yards of the water on an island with an average height of just one yard.

30.12.2004

Pondicherry fishing village after the tsunami © M S Swaminathan Research Foundation

Latest report from the World Health Organization (WHO) puts the number of people displaced by last weekendÂ’s the tidal waves at five million. Eleven countries across six time zones were affected, including Seychelles, Kenya and Tanzania. More than 80,000 people are confirmed dead, with more than 32,000 occurring in the Indonesian regions of Aceh and north Sumatra. Nearly 30 international organizations are already providing relief services in different communities. The UN launched an initial appeal for $130 million ahead of a much vaster appeal scheduled for January 6.

29.12.2004 India has announced an assistance of Rs 105 crores ($25 million) for Sri Lanka and Maldives in addition to ships and helicopters that had been sent with relief material immediately after the tsunami hit the countries.

22.09.2004 The factsheet collates the most recent data for Maldives on HIV/AIDS prevalence and incidence, together with information on sexual behaviours which can spur or stem the transmission of HIV.

• Author/Publisher: World Health Organization & UNAIDS
• Area Focus: Maldives
• Type: Fact Sheet
• Year Published: 2004