Malé, Maldives, 26 December 2025: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Maldives, today officially handed over a comprehensive set of emergency response and rescue equipment to the Maldives Police Service (MPS), strengthening national preparedness and response capacities in the face of increasing climate and disaster risks. 

The handover took place on Unity Day, marking the anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, a day of deep national reflection and recommitment to resilience and preparedness. 

The equipment support is provided under the Risk Informed Development in Small Island Developing States (RIDS in SIDS) project, implemented by UNDPNDMA in partnership with NDMA UNDP Maldives. This project was made possible through generous contributions from from Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Republic of Korea, via the Funding Windows. As UNDP’s primary mechanism for flexible and pooled thematic funding, the Funding Windows enableenables UNDP to respond swiftly and comprehensively to needs and emerging challenges across the world. The Maldives project is enabling long-term and flexible investments in resilience-building across Small Island Developing States. 

In the Maldives, the project focuses on strengthening early warning systems, enhancing disaster preparedness and response capacities, improving the use of risk information for decision-making, and promoting inclusive and gender-responsive resilience efforts. 

Today's handover supports national first responders by equipping them with essential tools to carry out timely, safe, and effective emergency operations. The equipment provided to the MPS includes five categories of specialised rescue equipment, comprising 23 items and 2,064 individual units, with a total value of MVR 2.5 million. 

The equipment covers: 

• Firefighting, pumps, and power equipment

• Marine and water rescue gear

• Emergency medical and first aid equipment

• Field operations and technical rescue support

• Personal protective equipment (PPE) 

These assets are designed to significantly enhance search and rescue readiness, marine and water rescue operations, emergency medical response, and rapid deployment during disasters, particularly climate-induced emergencies affecting island communities. 

Speaking at the event, representatives from NDMA and UNDP Maldives stated that investing in the preparedness of first responders is a critical pillar of national resilience. Strengthened response capacity contributes to faster and safer emergency operations, reduced loss of life and injury, and increased public confidence during crises. 

The initiative aligns with the Maldives’ broader efforts to advance disaster governance, early warning systems, and climate resilience, ensuring that communities across all islands are better protected from growing climate and disaster risks.