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The tidal wave flooded two thirds of Male and caused
damage to infrastructure. However, remote island atolls were more severely
affected with whole islands being washed out and its inhabitants evacuated to
nearby islands. Damage to water supplies (mainly rainwater storage) and
foodstuffs was extensive. The Government of the Maldives
declared a National Emergency and appealed for clothing, dried food and
water. It is currently estimated that 82 people have died, with 26 still
missing, presumed dead.
Damage to the health infrastructure included one Regional
and two atoll Hospitals severely damaged, with 14 health
Centers and 20 health posts also
sustaining serious damage.
WHO received a request from Government for water purifying
tablets, ORS, antibiotics, etc. In response to this,
WHO supplied 11 New Emergency Health-Kits 98, 10 surgical kits provided by
the Norwegian government, as well as 100,000 packs of ORS and 6.5 MT of chlorine.
WHO also has pledged US $ 6,085,000 through the UN Flash
Appeal (see attachments with the WHO components of the Flash Appeal).
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