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Mission Maldives
30 December 2004 – 14 January 2005
Assessment Report
Dr. Nik Sieber and Dr. Willi Finger
Zürich, Switzerland
Assessment report, 2 January 2005
Diffushi (Kaafu Atoll)
Population
Total: 1050, Children <15 years: 250
Water supply
Drinking water by rainwater collector, about 180 houses with their own tanks
Washing / bathing water by 200 private wells
Tsunami effects
- Island was flooded about 1.5 m
- About 20 houses severely damaged (to be confirmed by phone call)
- Most of drinking water tanks are not influenced by the flood
- Wells have been flooded, saltwater and mud intrusions. The water of the wells is not used in the moment whether for bathing nor for washing
Needs
1st priority
- Drinking water within 4 days
2nd priority
- About 20 drinking water tanks (2500 l)
3rd priority
- Cleaning the wells by mud pumps
Current help operations
A private team (group of about 20 people) cleaned the schoolhouse
Remarks
Laboratory tests made with our field laboratory
Rainwater tank:
| Water temperature: |
27º |
| pH: |
5.5 |
| Conductivity |
550 µS/cm |
| Chloride: |
40 mg/liter |
| Nitrate: |
0 mg/liter |
| Free chlorine: |
0 mg/liter |
| Bacteriology: |
none |
Well:
| pH: |
7.5 |
| conductivity |
> 2000 µS/cm |
| Chloride: |
>300 mg/liter |
| Bacteriology: |
not executed |
Gurhaidhoo (South Malé Atoll)
Population
Total: 1470
Actually: About 570 (900 transferred to Male)
Water supply
Drinking water by rainwater collector, about 270 houses with their own tanks
Washing / bathing water by about 270 private wells
Tsunami effects
- Island was flooded about 2 m, except hospital for people who need special care.
- About 54 houses destroyed and numerous severely damaged
- Most of drinking water tanks were influenced by the flood. 50-60 were removed by the wave, about 20 broken. A lot of the tanks were filled by sea water.
- Wells have been flooded, saltwater and mud intrusions. The water of the wells is not used in the moment whether for bathing nor for washing.
- Waste all over the island. Population started to collect waste and debris and is deposing them on the football ground without separating. Danger of infections!
Needs
1st priority
- Drinking water immediately, only minimum of reserve
- Help (army?) to remove the waste deposits from streets and football ground.
2nd priority
- About approx. 60 drinking water tanks (2500 l)
3rd priority
- Cleaning the wells by mud pumps
Current help operations
A private team (group of about 20 people) cleaned the schoolhouse
Proposal
The current system of wastewater infiltration into the aquifer (septic tanks) should be replaced by a sea discharge system.
Remarks
Laboratory tests made with our field laboratory
Rainwater tank:
| Water temperature: |
27º |
| pH: |
9 |
| Conductivity |
550 µS/cm |
| Chloride: |
75 mg/liter |
| Nitrate: |
0 mg/liter |
| Free chlorine: |
0 mg/liter |
| Bacteriology: |
non |
Maafushi (South Malé Atoll)
Population
Total: 1260 (without prison and surrounding staff houses)
Children < 15 years: 350
Water supply
Drinking water by rainwater collector, approximately 100 drinking water tanks.
Washing / bathing water by about 200 private wells
Tsunami effects
- Island was flooded about 1 m.
- A lot of drinking water tanks were influenced by the flood, 48 destroyed. A lot of the tanks were filled by sea water.
- Wells have been flooded, saltwater and mud intrusions. The water of the wells is not used in the moment whether for bathing nor for washing.
- Leak of diesel oil from power station.
- Waste in great parts of the island. Population, army and police are in course to collect waste and debris. Organics and debris are separated from the waste.
Needs
1st priority
- Drinking water reserves for 2-3 days. Need could bee probably supplied by the desalination plant of the prison.
2nd priority
- About approx. 50 drinking water tanks (2500 l)
3rd priority
- Cleaning the wells by mud pumps
Assessment Report:
1,2,3,4,5
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