The biggest issue facing Kalaidhoo island of Laamu atoll is the issue of housing, revealed the island council.
Speaking to RaajjeMV regarding the matter, Council President Hussain Khaleel revealed that they had to largely repopulate island following damages incurred by the 2004 Tsunami.
Khaleel added that the island community is yet to “fully recover” from the damages incurred. Some of the major damages incurred due to the massive waves were to households and properties, said Khaleel, who added that the waves had even caused the walls of houses to collapse.
Stressing that the island community is still living with the losses incurred, the Council President stated that the then-government had constructed 48 houses on the island after damage assessment, however, the community requires more housing units.
Then-administration provided financial assistance of MVR 18,000 to 70 households. The biggest aid was of MVR 130,000 which was used for construction. However, we are still getting complaints that paint does not stay on the walls after the Tsunami. We believe it is because the walls are soddenKalaidhoo Council President Hussain Khaleel
Further, Khaleel stressed that there are major difficulties in constructing houses due to several reasons like muddy grounds and hindrances in acquiring material. Other issues raised include authorities not having developed the roads on the region where plots of land were newly issued.
