Maldives sends message of support amid Australia's bushfire crisis

The outcomes of the fires raging Australia are global reminders of effects of human-induced climate change, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Following the irreplaceable damages caused by bushfires sweeping across a large chunk of southeast Australia, the government of Maldives extended sympathies and condolences to the government and people of Australia on Wednesday.

As such, Solih addressed a letter to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, sharing the country’s grief over the loss of its unique ecosystems and wildlife, several homes and property as well as precious human lives.

In the letter, Solih dubbed the destruction to be “truly shocking” to even comprehend.

Expressing profound sympathies to those affected, Solih grieved that the damages caused by the fires to habitats, species and the environment of Australia is a “bitter” global reminder of the effect of human-induced climate change in exacerbating natural occurrences.

Shedding light on the close ties between Maldives and Australia, a trusted development partner of Maldives, the president went on to assure PM Morrison that Maldives stands in solidarity with the people of Australia.

Having expressed luck in recovery efforts, Solih affirmed the country’s keenness to be a part of broader global effort to address consequences of climate emergency.

Over five million animals were killed and badly injured, at least 25 have been pronounced dead and thousands were forced to evacuate a coastline that stretches up to 350-kilometers including inland areas at risk in order to escape the deadly blazes. 1,300 lost homes with over five million acres of woodland being burned down in the fires that have been sweeping over large chunks of Australia.

Particularly in recent days, blazes have been razing over 170,000 hectares of land on Kangaroo Island and it has been dubbed one of the biggest tragedies in recent times, the fire continues to rage out of control in many regions.