China, India send water, aid to Maldives
December 8, 2014, 5:19 am

Soldiers unload drinking water at an airport in Male, capital of Maldives, in the early morning of Dec. 8, 2014. Two Chinese military aircraft carrying 40 tonnes of drinking water arrived in water-starved Maldives on Monday [Xinhua]

A marine rescue vessel of the Chinese navy has also been dispatched to transport about 1000 tons fresh water to Male on Friday, and it is scheduled to arrive at Male on Monday morning.

China has also provided emergency aid in cash in response to Maldivian government’s request. The Chinese government has donated 500,000 US dollars to the Maldives government to speed up repairs in a desalination plant and restore water to the capital.

The Maldives government has said an estimated $20 million would be needed to repair the plant.

“The Chinese government has already come forward with a 500,000 U.S. dollar donation. Discussions are ongoing with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and other Arab governments. We hope to get monetary aid from them,” Maldives Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim said on Sunday.

Earlier on Sunday, India had also sent a Navy vessel and an Air Force aircraft carrying nearly 1,000 tonnes of fresh water for Maldives.

Indian ship INS Sukanya carried 35 tonnes of fresh water and has the capability to produce 20 tonnes of water every day. Indian and Chinese Navy warships have the capability to produce drinking water using their onboard desalination plants.

About 150,000 residents are faced with water scarcity in Male after a fire damaged equipments of the Maldives Water and Sewage Company and forced suspension of water supply on Thursday.

China has also arranged for all commercial flights out of China to Male to be loaded with drinking water.

Maldives and China last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a feasibility study of a key bridge project linking the international airport in Male with the capital city.

The contract to expand Male airport has been given to Beijing Urban Construction Group Company Limited after the Maldivian government cancelled a $511 million deal with an Indian firm two years ago.

Chinese President Xi Jinping had secured Maldives’ backing in September for his plan to build a “Maritime Silk Road”.

“China will encourage more Chinese enterprises to actively engage in the economic transformation of Maldives,” Xi said.

 TBP and Agencies