President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has called on the international community to pay more attention to the vulnerabilities of small island states.

The president advocated for SIDS at the Paris Peace Forum, held virtually from 11-12 November. The purpose of the forum was to provide a platform for the global community to outline their countries’ particular priorities for a post Covid-19 world.

Using the opportunity to speak on behalf of small island states, President Solih asked the international community to “pay more heed to their particular vulnerabilities”.

He noted that the ongoing pandemic has “very clearly” illustrated those vulnerabilities, and urged the international community to strive to build an international order that is just and beneficial to all nations.

Noting that the Maldives’ economy has been severely impacted by the pandemic in light of the country’s dependence on tourism and the ongoing restrictions on air travel, Solih said that “full economic recovery will take time” despite Maldives loosening its own restrictions in gradual phases, in proportion to its success in containing the virus.

He added that meanwhile, “Maldives will need the support of the international community in terms of financial assistance, debt relief and technical assistance to help diversify the country’s economy”.

During his statement, President Solih also urged collaboration on climate issues.

He noted that “in a year or two the pandemic will subside but that the more serious threat of the climate emergency will remain”.

Further emphasizing that the pandemic has been illustrative of two important facts, that “in today’s world, the effects of crises cannot be confined to borders; and they cannot be resolved without collective action”, the president urged all to acknowledge those lessons and work together to “leave future generations a world that is sustainable and in balance with nature’ because that ‘is the only way in which we can truly build for the future”.