Rising sea levels threaten to drown the Maldives, and the Indian Ocean archipelago is running out of potable water. But the new president says he has abandoned his predecessor’s plans to resettle citizens.
Instead, President Mohamed Muizzou plans for the country to fend off the waves through ambitious land reclamation and the construction of higher islands. To do this, he is asking for 500 million euros in foreign funding. However, environmental and human rights groups warn it could worsen flood risks.
It is worth noting that approximately 80 percent of the Maldives is less than a meter above sea level. And while the fortress walls surrounding dense settlements may hold back the waves, the fate of the offshore islands where tourists flock is unclear.
It is worth noting that former President Mohamed Nasheed stated that they could become the world’s first environmental refugees in need of resettlement in another country.
He wanted the Maldives to start saving money to buy land in neighboring India, Sri Lanka, or even as far away as Australia.