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Fifteen Islands in danger of extinction due to severe erosion

It has recently come to light that fifteen islands have seen drastic erosion of shores due to climate change, and people from three of these islands need to be migrated to other islands.

“Statistical Year Book” updated and published by the Planning Department last Thursday shows that at the end of 2011, fifteen of the 191 inhabited islands had faced severe erosion. The people of the islands affected worst were changed to other islands. People of Haa Alif Hathifushi were migrated to Haa Alif Hanimaadhoo while Laamu Kalhaidhoo people were migrated to Laamu Gan and Gaafu Alif Dhiddhoo people were migrated to Gaafu Alif Gemanafushi.

Baa Atoll is the worst affected out of all 20 atolls where three of the 13 islands are facing severe erosion. Two islands in Haa Alif Atoll and two from Meemu atoll are also facing the problem while islands in atolls Haa Dhaalu, Noonu, Lhaviyani, Alif Alif, Vaavu, Meemu and Gaafu Dhaalu are also facing the dangers of erosion.

With island heights averaging at about 1.5 above sea level, Maldives tops the list of countries facing the dangers of sea level rise. People of two houses in NoonuHolhudhoo were forced to abandon their homes and move to other houses last year. Those two houses now sit in the sea.

There is much talk about the dangers of climate change, but little action is seen to be taken.

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