Agreement signed to create emergency communications system

An agreement has been signed between the Maldivian Coastguard and the National Disaster (NDMC) Management Center to establish a warning and emergency communication system.

At a special ceremony held today, the agreement was signed by the Senior Policy Executive of the NDMC, Ahmed Rasheed and the Commanding Officer of MNDF, Major Ibrahim Shan Shakir.

Speaking at the ceremony, Defence Minister, Adam Shareef Umaru said that this agreement was a success in the efforts to minimize national disasters in the country.

The Defence Minister said that the project is worth MVR 1.7 million and would bring a level of ease to the people across the country. Minister Adam Shareef said that it would also become a resource if the communications systems were down for any reason.

He said that the installations in the atolls atolls will be completed in May 2018.

The communications system is being installed under free-aid from the Japanese government through India's South Asian satellite. The project is being conducted by the MNDF and NDMC with the help of the Communications Authority of Maldives.

The project will see installations in 33 selected islands across the country. Upon completion, authorities can communicate with the islands at least 6 hours nonstop without depending on telecommunication companies.