Aid Objectives To Be Achieved In 2007

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has said that it expects to achieve its primary aid objectives in the Maldives by the end of next year.

In a recent report titled “Tsunami Recovery in the Maldives 2004-2006”, the UNDP writes that in 2007 its Shelter and Harbour projects, which work towards both recovery and reconstruction, will be completely phased out. As a result, this will make way for other programmes that will go beyond recovery and assist the Maldives in achieving international development targets.

According to the UNDP, the combined efforts of the Maldivian Government, development partners, and various humanitarian agencies have helped put the Maldives “back on the path” of regaining the development momentum that was lost due to the tsunami.

“In the case of the Maldives, the tsunami reversed whole decades of developmental success,” writes the report. “Looking at what we have accomplished,” it continues, “it seems fair to say that UNDP has honoured its dedication to help regain lost development momentum and to establish a system that respects and encourages the rights and aspirations of all Maldivians.”

UNDP also said that it supports the Maldivian Government in promoting good governance. And it went on to assure that the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), which was created by the government to assist with the tsunami, was a body “to be recognised as a model for how other governments can effectively coordinate response to major crises”.

But some critics expressed beliefs that more could have been done. They say that because NDMC eventually announced that only the government was allowed to distribute tsunami aid and assistance, further development of Maldivian civil society had been stifled.

These critics disagree with UNDP and say that the Maldivian Government is not promoting “good governance”, but rather oppression and dependency. According to them, Gayoom prevented NGOs from establishing themselves in the Maldives after the tsunami only so that the social services to be provided would not erode the Maldivian public’s dependence on the government. This, they say, was a great opportunity squandered.

Furthermore, just last week, the UK-based charity Maldives Aid, published a report that seriously criticised the state of the recovery effort made by international aid organisations and the government.

The charity, which coordinated a large chunk of aid from the UK after the tsunami said: “There are serious shortcomings in the reconstruction projects taking place in the Maldives at present. The international aid organisations and the Government of Maldives need to address these issues immediately.”

Former US President Bill Clinton, also recently published a report on lessons learned from the tsunami recovery and in it said: “Only 30 to 35% of the people have been put back into permanent housing, we have to do better than that.”

The international media has also launched a stinging attack on the charities’ overall work. The Guardian newspaper in the UK wrote on December 21: “Bureaucracy, poor planning and the cynical withholding of money by some governments and charities are believed to have caused the inordinate delays in the four countries most affected – Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Maldives.”

But despite the criticisms the UNDP is certain that overall, tsunami relief and development in the Maldives has been a success. It does, however, believe even more should be accomplished.

“Although much has been done,” writes the UNDP, “many challenges remain. More than 10,000 people are still internally displaced, and there is a shortage of funding in many sectors, including the critical areas of shelter, harbours, livelihoods, water and sanitation.”

It continues: “it is essential that development agencies and the wider international community continue to support the Maldives and other affected countries as they struggle to recover from this unprecedented natural disaster.”