3 January 2004
By Minivan News

On the 26th of December 2004 following the affects of the tsunami, the Maldivian government set up a National Task Force, intending to serve as the central point for relief work carried out throughout the country. However, it is reported that due to the inefficiency of the Task Force, in dealing with aid, many Maldivians have started up independent relief efforts.

The ineffieciency of the Task Force has been linked to the delays in distribution of aid and the lack of credible information released by the government. Immediately after the impact of the tsunami was realized, individuals started gathering up aid to send off to the outer lying islands. The Task Force was to co-ordinate the distribution of this aid, using coast guard vessels and private dhoanis.

People desperately need help, Maldives

However, due to the fact that there was no concrete system in dealing with such a situation, and also due to there being no proper leadership, relief efforts were erratic and at times didn’t reach the islanders that it was meant for.

In the island of Komandoo, in Shaviayni Atoll, the Task Force sent aid in the form of food, clothing, 30 gas cookers and 50 gas cylinders. All the aid except for the gas cookers and cylinders was distributed to the islanders. These were taken from the dhoani crew by the island chief and then sold by his cousin to the more well off Komandoo islanders who lived on the other side of the island. The dhoani crew which was sent by the Task Force complained of this incident to Dr. Shaugee, who is the Minister of Education and also in charge of the Task Force center in Male’. Shaugee then ordered the island chief to take back the gas cylinders and distribute them to the more needy. The island chief denied ever having received the gas cylinders. The dhoani crew complained again, and this time the complaint reached Mr. Ismail Shafeeu, the Minister of Defense.

The island chief yet again denied that they had not received the gas cylinders. He then calls Mr. Mohamed Hussain, the Minister of Presidential Affairs. The Minister of Presidential Affairs is said to be greatly influenced by the island chief, who in turn provides a lot votes for the Minister. The network of relations in Komandoo Island is such that the chief’s cousin is the headmaster of the island school, his brother-in-law is the judge at the island court, and his elder brother is the atoll chief, and the wealthy businessmen of the island are also all member of the island chief’s family. The people working at the Shaviyani atoll desk at the Task Force center were also the island chief’s relatives. Hearing about the incident with the gas cylinders, the Shaviyani desk omitted the gas cylinders from their list, which proved the island chief’s story about never having received the cylinders in the first place. The island chief also filed a report with the coast guard, stating that the dhoani crews were sent by an independent relief group in Male’, and that they had stolen the cylinders and distributed it by labeling it as aid sent by the independent group and not by the government. The dhoani’s crew was held in custody for four and half hours.

Minister Ismail Shafeeu ordered the Shaviyani members at the Task Force desk to be replaced, but the island chief overlooked these orders by appealing to Minister Mohamed Hussein. Shafeeu then reported the incident to the Minister of Atolls Development, Abdullah Hameed who reportedly took no notice of the incident and also reprimanded Shafeeu for bringing it up. The Komandoo island chief also enjoys close relations with the Minister of Atolls Development. A Japanese relief team also heard of the incident and reported to Ismail Shafeeu and the Minister of Trade, Yameen Abdul Gayoom. The report was also heard by the President.

The island chief has also reportedly sold off medical supplies sent as relief. Ultimately no action was taken against the island chief, who was able to make a profit of 69,000MRF out of relief aid.