The Maldivian Students Association (UK) began its Annual General Meeting on Thursday 30 December 2004 held at 9 Rosemont Avenue, North Finchley, London, with recitation from the Holy Quran and observance of a two-minute silence in remembrance of those whose lives were lost and those who were missing as a result of the onslaught of the Asian Tsunami which struck the whole of the Maldives on Sunday 26 December.
During the gathering, the winner of the Young Science Writers Competition, Hazrath Rasheed Hussain from Centre for Higher Secondary Education in Malé who won a trip to the UK , was awarded a shield, certificate and a cheque for 500 US dollars, which were given away by the Chief Guest, Honourable Mr Hassan Sobir, the Maldivian High Commissioner in UK.
Following that, the outgoing Chairperson, Ismail Mohamed presented the main activities carried out during the year, and the Treasurer, Nishwan Abbas summarised the association's financial activity for the year.
An amendment was made to the Constitution to enable Associate Members to cast votes in the election of office bearers of the Central Committee, before the new CC was elected. The elected office bearers are as follows::
| Chairperson | Mr Fazeel Najeeb | PhD, Queen Mary College, University of London |
| Vice-chairperson | Ms Geela Ali | MSc, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine |
| Secretary | Ms Aminath Nadha | BSc (Hons), University of Manchester |
| Treasurer | Mr Abdulla Mohamed | MEng, University of Manchester |
| Student Advisor | Mr Nishwan Abbas | MEng, University College London |
The first Advisory Council was also elected during the meeting. It constitutes the outgoing Chairperson and three other members who were: Ms Aamaal Ali (Head), Dr Hassan Ugail and Mr Abdullah Shareef.
During the meeting discussions were held to identify ways of assisting the Tsunami relief effort in the Maldives . Members decided to donate Rf 60,000 immediately to the Government relief fund at Bank of Maldives. In addition, the members were actively engaged in manning the hotline at the High Commission of Maldives in London , to provide information and support the relief effort.
The meeting ended with the National Anthem which was followed by a sumptuous dinner prepared for the occasion.
Members of the association organised special prayers of supplication ‘Kashu Namaadhu' in absentia, after the Friday prayers at the Islamic Cultural Centre Mosque in North Finchley, for the numerous lives lost in the Maldives following the Tsunami, which was also attended by members of the High Commission.
The association is also actively engaged in the relief effort by collecting donations in kind, calling for monetary donations, publicising the relief effort at local communities, and organising fund raising activities.
29 December, 2004 Press Conference on behalf of the Government of the Maldives |
Statement from Hassan Sobir
Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming here today.
I would like to use this opportunity to provide you with an update on the situation in the Maldives following the devastation caused by the tsunami earlier this week.
As many of you will know, the Maldives comprises nearly1200 islands of which about 200 are inhabited.
The tsunami has wreaked havoc and disaster across the length and breadth of our small island nation and has caused widespread devastation and destruction. Almost every single island in the archipelago has been affected to varying degrees.
Our latest figures indicate that there are
- 67 confirmed mortalities. This figure includes 3 British tourists, a Sri Lankan and an Indian national amongst the confirmed deaths
- There are 75 people still missing
- and there are estimates of about 12 thousand people displaced
For a small island nation with a population of about 300,000, this already represents a tragedy of the highest proportions.
And yet we still fear that the casualty figures are set to rise in the next few days.
At the outset, the disruption to communications formed the biggest obstacle to our assessment, search, rescue and relief efforts
As the picture has become clearer we are able to report that:
- Half a dozen islands have been totally washed off, without a single structure still standing
- 37 islands are without water. These have suffered major damage with power, housing, sewage and infrastructure almost completely destroyed
- 29 islands have suffered moderate damage, with coastal structures and some houses being affected
- And 7 islands have been evacuated
Fortunately, full communications were restored last night to most of the Maldives - with the exception of one of the twenty atolls.
As many of you will know, the tourism industry forms a major part of the Maldives ' economy. And, undoubtedly, it will be a significant measure in helping the Maldives overcome this disaster as the country seeks to get back on its feet.
At present, there are 17,000 tourists in the Maldives . All of them have had the opportunity to return although many have chosen to stay.
The floods brought on by the tsunami have meant that:
- 8 resorts have been evacuated.
- 17 resorts are not operational and will require between 2-3 months' worth of renovation
- 56 resorts are fully operational;
- 14 resorts semi operational;
- and the rest require partial renovation and should be able to reopen in a few weeks
On behalf of the Maldives , I would like to thank all those who have been thinking of us, praying for us, and sending us messages of support over the last few days.
I would also like to pay tribute and give thanks to all those who have so generously come to the aid of the Maldives in our hour of need.
We have received aid and assistance from India, Pakistan, Japan, the United States, China, Greece, Turkey, Jordan, France, Australia, Kuwait, Libya, Bhutan the UN - the Headquarters crisis response and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and also the Islamic Development Bank.
In addition, India has sent ships and planes to help with the search, rescue and relief efforts, and we also have UNICEF and the UNDP working locally.
Looking forward our urgent necessities now are for food, medicine, water tanks, chlorine tablets, first aid kits, folding flexible mats, cots and bedding, emergency lights torches and batteries.
There are many good men and women currently on the ground helping to provide medical aid to the injured, comfort to the distressed, and shelter to the displaced.
I thank each and every
31 December, 2004 The President Orders the Withdrawal of Charges of High Treason and of Public Disorder Offences
Please refer: The President Orders the Withdrawal of Charges of High Treason and of Public Disorder Offences
Source: www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv