Maldives Libraries and the Tsunami

The Tsunami of December 26, 2004 caused tremendous damages to life and property throughout the Maldives.

“The impact of the tsunami on Maldives was a disaster that affected the entire nation,” said Alastair McKechnie, Maldives Country Director for the World Bank. “Although the loss of life in the Maldives was mercifully less compared to other countries affected by the tsunami, the damage to the economy makes it one of the worst-affected countries. Twenty islands—nearly one tenth of the 198 inhabited islands in the Maldives—were largely devastated, and 14 islands evacuated. Almost one third of the country’s 300,000 people were directly affected by the tsunami, with nearly 12,000 people displaced and another 8,500 temporarily relocated within their own islands.”

It is heartwarming to note that the International Community is extending financial and other recovery aid need for the Maldives to reconstruct its livelihood. However, these contributions are used for basic needs like establishing relief shelter, electricity, water, food and other basic necessities.

The Maldives Library Association seeks assistance from the International community to reconstruct and repair the damage caused by the Tsunami to the libraries. It is not very clear the exact level of damage caused to the libraries as all libraries in the country were not registered. Moreover, a physical survey of all damaged areas is not very feasible due to the geographical distribution of the islands.

An assessment of the destruction to private libraries was undertaken over the phone. This assessment was not comprehensive as there are difficulties in reaching some libraries due to many reasons including un-notified changes in the contact details and the total destruction of the building and the resulting relocation. The damage assessment to school libraries is much clearer as; the Ministry of Education had the data collected from the respective schools. A summary of the available data on the level of destruction caused to libraries is attached with this document. Letters have been sent to the respective departments requesting more information and this will be made available as it is received.

According to the estimates, the damage to building and resources are huge. Some libraries have lost all of their material including the building itself, while other libraries have major damages and yet others with little to no damages at all. The Maldives Library Association is doing what it can to help the reconstruction, however, the loss and damage is far beyond what we can recover on our own resources. Therefore we request for International donations to overcome the devastating hurdle we have encountered.

Donations in the form of either library material (including reading material, furniture, machinery & equipment) or financial assistance would be a great help. Help is also needed in surveying the libraries in the outer Islands for assessment of damage caused.

Contact information:
Habeba Hussain Habeeb
President, Maldives Library Association
Email: national-library@avasmail.com.mv
Tel: +(960) 338858

Aminath Riyaz
Vice President
Maldives Library Association
Email: a.riyaz.01@mche.edu.mv
Tel: +(960) 331090, (960) 765181
Fax: +(960) 316498

The table below lists damages by region:

Destruction to School Libraries due to Tsunami
The following information was derived from the Ministry of Education

Line #	Atoll	Island	Sum of fiction	Sum of Magazine	Sum of periodicals	Sum of Reference	Degree of Destruction
1	Alifu Alifu	Bodufulhadhoo	300	20	40	124		C+
2	Alifu Alifu	Mathiveri	566	-	80	110		C+
3	Baa	Kihaadhoo	195	95	95	200		C+
4	Dhaalu	Ban'didhoo	257	10	131	227		C+
5		Gemendhoo	140	78	75	80		D
6		Meedhoo	1171	360	263	794		C+
7		Rin'budhoo	330	20	40	124		C+
8		Vaanee	361	611	592	26		C+
9	Gaafu Alifu	Nilandhoo	134	86	22	26		C
10	Gaafu Alifu	Villingilli	618	244	175	521		C
11	Gaafu Dhaalu	Gadhdhoo	402	-	65	113		C+
12	Haa Alifu	Filladhoo	340	110	120	152		C+
13		Filladhoo	130	-	-	35		D
14		Vashafaru	206	76	25	28		C
15	Haa Dhaalu	Kulhudhufushi	4033	192	98	1348		C
16	Haa Dhaalu	Nolhivaranfaru	195	300	98	200		C+
17	Kaafu	Himmafushi	375	70	50	125		C+
18		Dhiffushi	280	4	7	90		C
19		Guraidhoo	1104	125	204	231		C
20		Maafushi	753	275	103	347		C
21		Huraa	745	625	150	150		C+
22		Maafushi	100					D
23	Laamu	Dhan'bidhoo	438	275	150	152		C+
24		Gan	150	-	-	50		C
25		Gan	410	70	120	260		C+
26		Isdhoo	539	70	132	360		C+
27		Kalhaidhoo	344	20	20	193		C+
28		Mahibadhoo	439	-	-	490		C
29		Mundoo	305	201	49	192		C+
30	Lhaviyani	Hinnavaru	2046	1358	288	178		C
31	Meemu	Dhiggaru	664	180	90	150		C
32		Kolhufushi	368	112	56	219		C
33		Madifushi	130	-	-	30		D
34		Muli	1016	60	60	100		C+
35		Naalaafushi	160	60	60	100		C+
36	Noonu	Kudafaree	320	39	35	94		C+
37	Noonu	Maafaru	1073	219	72	243		C+
38	Raa	Kandukolhudhoo	2141	1646	80	444		D
39	Shaviyani	Komandoo	2121	2147	491	585		C+
40	Shaviyani	Maroshi	1075	2960	-	175		C+
41	Thaa	Gaadhifushi	240	65	65	130		D
42		Kin'bidhoo	651	256	42	197		C
43		Madifushi	364	-	-	85		D
44		Omadhoo	218	44	52	35		C
45		Vilufushi	1664	367	190	92