The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has begun distributing drainage pumps donated by the Japanese government to islands across the Maldives as part of efforts to enhance the country's resilience to climate change and flooding.
According to NDMA, the pumps have been officially handed over to 18 islands under the first phase of the Economic and Social Development Project, which is aimed at improving disaster preparedness and protecting vulnerable communities from the increasing impacts of extreme weather.
Flooding has become an increasingly serious challenge for the Maldives, with frequent heavy rainfall and rising sea levels posing significant risks to the low-lying island nation. The new equipment is expected to improve the ability of island councils and local authorities to respond quickly to flooding incidents and reduce damage to infrastructure and communities.
Under the first phase of the project, a total of 40 high-capacity drainage pumps have been brought into the country. Twenty islands have been selected to receive the equipment, with each island allocated two pumps along with supporting materials, including control panels, spare parts and protective housings.
NDMA stated that 18 of the targeted islands have already received their equipment, while the remaining two islands—Kudarikilu and Maafaru—are expected to receive their allocations in the coming days, completing the first round of distributions.
The authority emphasized that the drainage pumps form part of a broader national strategy to strengthen climate resilience and disaster risk management. In addition to providing emergency flood-response equipment, the government is continuing to expand stormwater management and drainage infrastructure in flood-prone areas across the country.
Several drainage and flood mitigation systems have already been completed and are operational in Malé City and a number of major islands. At the same time, efforts are underway to modernize early warning systems, enabling authorities to deliver faster and more accurate alerts ahead of severe weather events.
NDMA noted that these initiatives are intended to enhance the country's preparedness for climate-related disasters and help safeguard communities from the growing threat of flooding caused by changing weather patterns and rising sea levels.
