Operation Fen Dhuni
On 4th December 2014, a fire broke out inside the Maldives Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC), leaving Male’ City’s water supply disrupted; affecting over 153,000 of the population who were deprived from the steady supply of water. A state of emergency was declared by the Government of Maldives in reaction to the water crisis in the capital.
Scouts were among the very first responders who attended the call from the company, seeking volunteers to come and help in the urgent efforts to distribute drinking water to the public.
The immediate response by MWSC along with the Maldivian National Defense Force (MNDF) and Maldivian Police Service (MPS) was to start distributing drinking water (bottled water) at 10 centers in the capital to cater to the population of Male’. Relief Aid from neighboring countries (India, Sri Lanka, China and Bangladesh) and international organizations (such as IFRC) flew in packed drinking water into the country to ensure that Male’ does not run out of safe drinking water.
A special task force among Scout Leaders in Male’ was formed to react and oversee the Scouts’ response initiative and to liaison with the government authorities and other relevant organizations in helping out in the relief efforts. Scouts actively took part in all distribution centers helping the national effort under the title “Operation Fen Dhuni”. The operation continued from 4th-12th December 2014, a total of 211 Scouts (Scouts, Rover Scouts and Scout Leaders) from 11 Scout Groups actively volunteered in the 7-day operation.