Preliminary Proposal for CRS engagement in Maldives

Preliminary Proposal for CRS engagement in Maldives (This was offered on “best efforts basis” contingent on funds raised, subject to approval of Society’s leadership in Singapore)

PHASE I
 
Guraidhoo Island
We propose providing kitchen essentials such as gas stoves, plates and cups, pots and pans for this island as soon as our ground staff is stationed in Maldives to receive and distribute the items. The island has 236 households.
 
Maafushi Island
The island has managed to recover from the disaster pretty quickly. Most of the debris has been cleared. We propose to give them a wide spectrum of medicine to restock their medical clinic.

Kohlufushi Island
This island is the most badly affected island of 4 we visited. Most of the houses were destroyed and the remainder unsafe to live in. The people are now housed in tents, boats and a school. We found that the communal kitchen uses firewood to cook 2-3 meals for some 1200 people everyday. We gave them 2 kerosene stoves which we brought from Singapore and bought another 6 kerosene stoves from Male. When the people are settled in more permanent homes, we propose supplying them with kitchen essentials (similar to the one in Guraidhoo). There are 174 households.

Muli Island
Muli is the Capital of Meemu Atoll. Most of the houses on the eastern side were destroyed. The island has a 35 beds hospital that serves the region- all the islands in this atoll. Practically all the electrical medical equipment were damaged by the flood and unusable. We propose helping them source for donated medical equipment.

Naalaafushi Island
When Banyan Tree completes the rebuilding and repair of houses on this island, we will provide kitchen essentials for up to 77 households.

Budget – Approx $50,000
For 3 islands, to supply kitchen essentials, there are a total of 487 households. The kitchen package per household is about $100, so a total of $48700 is required for 487 households. Plus a combination of donated and purchased medicines for the clinic on another island.

The government has stressed that the public resources are stretched. So CRS will work with the Male offices of Singaporean owned businesses etc. to clear cargo, arrange onward transportation of goods. Before we distribute the goods, we will make sure that the recipients have not received these items from other sources. If they have, we will distribute to the residents of other badly affected islands.

We chose to donate household items and source for medical equipment as this complements rather than duplicates other efforts and as our volunteer force has experience in this work. We have no volunteers to rebuild houses, repair appliances, clean out wells etc.

PHASE II
On the team’s next trip to do distribution, we will visit other “badly hit” islands to assess needs in consultation with the National Task Force. We may propose to provide kitchen essentials for the next 500 displaced households and or provide bed linen package, or try to meet other urgent needs within our capabilities.

SCHEDULE FOR CRS FACT FINDING TEAM

07 Jan 05	Arrival in Maldives, to Bandos Island Resort for sponsored stay.
1500	Depart from Bandos to Male’ to Visit National Disaster Centre. Met with the Chairman of the Task Force Hon. Ismail Shafeeu – Minister of Defense and National Security who briefed us on the needs of the people
08 Jan 05
0900	Depart from Bandos to visit 2 badly affected islands: Guraidhoo and Maafushi. Lunch at Cocoa Island, briefed by Mr Michael Steven, GM of Cocoa Island on how resorts rallied to help the affected islands and other private relief efforts.
1430	Depart from Cocoa to Male’ Meeting with Mr Mohamed Ahmed, Manager, Bandos Male’Office and Mr Ibrahim Rasheed, Manager, Purchasing, Bandos Island Resort who will help with procuring goods in Male or clear and transport cargo if sent from Singapore
09 Jan 05
0700	Depart from Bandos to visit the most badly affected islands Kolhufushi and Muli, the regional centre of Meemu Atoll.
10 Jan 05
Noon	Depart from Bandos to Male’ Bought kerosene stoves for Kolhufushi Island. In preparation for future trips by teams doing distribution: Checked out Hotel/Service Apartment, bought Maldives guide book. Met with Mr Azeez from Banyan Tree, who requested kitchen items for Naalaafushi. Visited National Disaster Centre to present preliminary CRS proposal to the Minister of Defense and National Security Hon. Ismail Shafeeu; met with officials from Ministry of Health (medical equipment) and Finance and Treasury officials (exemption from duty on donated goods). Visited UNDAC office: Meeting with Ted Pearn, UNDAC Coordinator on feasibility of CRS proposal, about activities of other NGO’s and the viability of tracking system of donated goods.
11 Jan 05	Depart to Singapore

Maldives Needs
(as presented by Minister of Defense and National Security’s staff to our team)

To restore lives of its citizens

• Cleaning and Repair – equipment for removal of debris, excavators, wheelbarrows, basic equipment like spades. building equipment, basic tools for masonry (concrete work), plumbing, electrical, roofing and carpentry
• Construction – Engineers, equipment and supplies
• Home Repair and Rebuilding – for permanent and temporary homes, facilities to include common mess rooms and toilet buildings.
• Plywood, pipes and plumbing material, bathroom fittings, zinc (roofing) sheets, electrical wiring etc
• Items that provide good rest, hygiene, move towards normalcy and privacy
  
  For IDP:
• Toothbrushes, toothpaste and bath towels
• Single bed foam mattresses and bedding (sheets, pillows and pillowcases)
• Cookers and Family sets of kitchenware (average family size of 6)
• Small lockable cupboards, lockers
• Knockdown furniture – small tables, plastic chairs
• Water: small desalination plants or universal desalination system (or small desalination plant on boats)
• Electronics: repairmen to repair household appliances – gas stoves, washing machines, refrigerators, television sets, VCD and DVD sets, home computers etc.
  
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