News in brief: Addu City hit by severe flooding

Heavy rain causes severe flooding in Addu City

More than 280 houses were damaged in the southernmost atoll due to flooding caused by heavy downpours since Friday night, the Addu City Council told state media on Sunday.

The Feydhoo island or ward was the worst affected with rainwaters seeping into 128 homes, displacing the residents of more than 40 households. Several households were evacuated across the interconnected islands and displaced people were moved to temporary shelters.

According to the Met office, 107 millimeters of rain was recorded in Addu from 8pm on Friday night to 6am on Saturday morning. All major roads were inundated. 

Policemen helped 140 households to take safety measures or draining flood water, police said on Saturday.

“This is not normal rain or flooding. I think we see it as more of a storm,” Mayor Abdulla Sodig told the press.

According to the Met, rainfall normally increases during October throughout central and southern atolls. Scattered showers are expected across the country according to the 24 hour weather forecast.

Fuvahmulah city, the amazing roads no where els in the world, kids no need to go surfing in the see, thank you to the all governments in Maldives pic.twitter.com/j0i3I2Mi4E

— Husss knee (@mifaharu) October 12, 2019

Japan donates ambulances worth US$1.4million

The Japanese government has donated 21 ambulances to the Maldives as part of a US$2.8 million grant committed to the health sector. 

The ambulances were sent to 21 islands across 15 atolls.

Under the Gov of #Japan Grant Aid H.E Ambassador to Japan Keiko Yanai handed over 21 Paramedic ambulances to Ministry of Health today @ameenex @mdvforeign pic.twitter.com/PHSRtj45em

— Ministry of Health (@MoHmv) October 12, 2019

Ambulance handover ceremony held at #JumhooreeMaidan in presence of cabinet minister, MPs, foreign dignitaries and senior officials pic.twitter.com/9YIfFxkYvM

— Ministry of Health (@MoHmv) October 12, 2019

Minister of Health @ameenex handed over 25 ambulances to Health facilities as part as governments effort to strengthen #National #Ambulance #Services and for overall contribution to health services nationwide. Additional 26 ambulance will be received within the year. pic.twitter.com/G0vM6HFe7Q

— Ministry of Health (@MoHmv) October 12, 2019

Maldivian confused as a former lawmaker held in Indian airport 

A Maldivian man was held in an Indian airport after immigration officers confused him with former ruling party MP Ahmed Nihan.

Ahmed Nihan, a senior magistrate at the Maamigili island court, travelled to India with a sibling for medical treatment. He was reportedly stopped and questioned for about 20 minutes.

The magistrate was shown photos of his namesake, according to family members who informed local media.

Former majority leader Nihan was barred from entering India in June 2018 as diplomatic relations soured during the previous administration. 

Bollywood star to lead Maldives fitness campaign

Indian actor Sunil Shetty will be leading a government fitness campaign in the Maldives as the country’s ‘Wellness Ambassador.’ The ‘Mission Fit Maldives’ campaign organised by the youth ministry will be modeled after Shetty’s ‘Mission Fit India.’

Proud to announce that Mr. @SunielVShetty, an icon not only in the Indian film Industry but also in health & fitness will promote a healthier lifestyle as the Ambassador of Wellness of the Maldives! Looking forward to work with Mr. Shetty & his team on #MissionFitMaldives 🇲🇻🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/pPyN13p6U8

— Ahmed Mahloof (@AhmedMahloof) October 12, 2019

Healthy citizens make strong countries. Maldives is amongst the most beautiful places, it’s people the nicest, and I soooo look forward to working with H.E President @ibusolih Minister @AhmedMahloof & their teams on #MissionFitMaldives #HashiheyoDhulhaheyo pic.twitter.com/9VRBZ2bq7e

— Suniel Shetty (@SunielVShetty) October 12, 2019

Maldivian wins city council election in New Zealand

A Maldives-born New Zealander has won a local city council seat. Shazly Rasheed, a business owner in Hutt City, ran for the city council for the first time after residing in New Zealand for 23 years.

According to New Zealand media,  Shazly was sent an anonymous racist letter during her campaign that told her to “go back to the country you came from.”

Delighted that a Maldivian @shazlyxperience won a local election in New Zealand and became a member of Hutt City council. Great achievement!

— Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (@maumoonagayoom) October 12, 2019

Warmest congratulations to Shazly @shazlyxperience for getting elected to Hutt City Council in New Zealand. Very very proud of you. 💪🏽 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 #anhenverin pic.twitter.com/xzfzv6vnoq

— Farah Faizal 🎈🇲🇻 (@DrFarahFaizal) October 12, 2019

Weekly police statistics

Today on Twitter:

Ongoing Joint Training Exercise “Ekuverin 2019” between MNDF Marines & the Mahar Regiment of the Indian Army.

Joint exercises like this build our interoperability and cohesion. It also helps to build the capacity of the MNDF Marine Corps. pic.twitter.com/ufaLIqTumj

— Chief of Defence Force MG.Abdulla Shamaal (@CDFofMNDF) October 13, 2019

Ex #Ekuverin2019

Briefing and operational discussions took place on house clearing drills and counter terrorism aspects. #IndianArmy and #MNDF are sharing best practices .Together we fight terrorism.#Synergy #Interoperability #UnitedNations pic.twitter.com/GsTuiZdQZ9

— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) October 12, 2019

Inaugural Ceremony of the Project Completion Review Workshop of the Mariculture Enterprise Development Project, in partnership with @IFAD pic.twitter.com/upes2b6ctE

— Min. of Fisheries, Marine Resources & Agriculture (@MoFMRAmv) October 13, 2019

Management workshop for unit managers at MCS, organized by ICRC started today at Maafushi Prison. CP thanks HM Imran Abdulla for inaugurating the 5 day workshop designed to increase the knowledge, skill and abilities of Correctional Officers to perform their job more efficienty pic.twitter.com/tAXewRCsf8

— Corrections Mv (@Corrections_Mv) October 13, 2019

Nature at its best at #BilehdhooThila – the northernmost protected area of the #Maldives – a recent addition to our protected areas situated in the north tip of #HoarafushiReef Photo Credits: WaterSolutions pic.twitter.com/wSbx4UViQ2

— Ahmed Saleem (@SalleHoarafushi) October 13, 2019

As we mark International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction 2019, let’s encourage each other to build a more disaster-resilient 🇲🇻.
As part of our attempt to reduce the impact of natural disasters, we conducted a School #TsunamiDrill in @DhaalAEC with funding of government of 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/DCY9KTBGAG

— UNDP Maldives (@UNDPMaldives) October 13, 2019

President @ibusolih visits family evening held to mark the International Day for Older Persons 2019 pic.twitter.com/0GKP5654KN

— The President's Office (@presidencymv) October 12, 2019

First Lady Fazna Ahmed joins the special activities held to celebrate International #DayoftheGirl Child pic.twitter.com/P4sn8goAJz

— The President's Office (@presidencymv) October 12, 2019

Wishing @caron_rohsler every success as she takes on her new role as British Ambassador to #Maldives.

Caron, good luck and enjoy yourself! I know you will quickly discover that you are living amongst wonderful people and beautiful islands in a country of many colours. James. pic.twitter.com/iju2HKYJZG

— James Dauris (@JamesDauris) October 12, 2019

Today’s TVET system encourages workplace learning for authentic competency development. Let all our workplaces be places of learning and skills development. Ongoing Automotive Maintrnance Program at STO Engineering and Mechanical Service.@stoplc @HusenAmr @TVETAuthority pic.twitter.com/NMU2PAskqt

— Maldives Institute of Technology (@mitmaldives) October 13, 2019

Thank you Mayor Shifa @etna295 & Deputy Mayor @schamau of Male' City Council@MaldivesSwim @encreare @Mihaarunews @MaleCitymv #DMO #SwimNation #800kmpool pic.twitter.com/fuDnbJ1gly

— Male' Open (@maaleopen) October 12, 2019

#Maldives is made of hundreds of vulnerable low lying atolls and islands. #Wetlands, which can store water, act as barriers against rising sea levels and flooding caused by #climatechange: https://t.co/sb0YpYjBeu @RamsarConv pic.twitter.com/ahQ223Ozso

— World Bank South Asia (@WorldBankSAsia) October 13, 2019