South Asia earthquake and tsunamis: Maldives

Approximately 100,000 have been affected by the tsunami. Many of the existing water supply facilities have been contaminated with salt water. Following an extensive assessment by water and sanitation experts on the affected islands, both water supply and sanitation infrastructure have been improved. 5 desalinization plants are in place, as well as two boats (provided by the Maldives private sector) carrying desalinization plants, circulating in the northern and southern atolls. However, on some islands, access to safe water and strong sanitation infrastructure remains disjointed. The public health infrastructure suffered extensive damage. One of six regional hospitals, two of 10 atoll hospitals, 14 of 63 health centres and 20 of 127 health posts suffering significant damage. Damaged transport infrastructure is hampering aid efforts - logistical complexities may become more acute as an increasing amount of heavy moving equipment is now beginning to arrive. Although the priority remains the acute relief effort, reconstruction efforts are increasing.

Health priorities

• Increase access to adequate supplies of safe drinking water
• Strengthen disjointed sanitation infrastructure, particularly in the area of sewage disposal and disinfection of living spaces contaminated by waste
• Rebuild the damaged public health infrastructure

Situation reports

• Summary update: six months after the tsunami (30 June 2005)
  pdf, 425kb
• Daily report from 28 June 2005
  pdf, 464kb
• Situation report
  pdf, 386kb
  17 May 2005

Last update 30 January 2006