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The Maldives Disaster Management Reference Handbook 2021 provides an overview of the Republic of Maldives, a low-lying island nation facing various physical hazards due to its topography and low elevation. It highlights the country’s vulnerability to seasonal events such as flooding, erosion, and sea level rise, with a significant portion of the land area being less than a meter above sea level.
The precarious situation is underscored by the fact that approximately 75% of the country’s land area rests less than a meter above mean sea level, amplifying the potential consequences of even minor sea level increases.
The document further explores the Maldives’ Community Based Disaster Risk Management program and the importance of cooperation between health authorities and stakeholders in managing health-related risks, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The capital city, Malé, emerges as a focal point of concern, boasting dense population concentrations and an intricate web of susceptibility encompassing both natural disasters and human-induced incidents such as residential fires. While large-scale natural disasters are relatively infrequent, the cataclysmic impact of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami left an indelible mark on the nation, catalyzing the formulation of robust disaster management and risk reduction strategies.
The Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DM) published this Handbook in May 2021.
For feedback and comments or to request a printed copy, please email cfe.dmha.fct@pacom.mil.
All parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval systems, and transmitted by any means without the publisher’s written permission.
