Launch of ‘Hushiyaaru’ – Maldives’ National Platform for Disaster Preparedness and Risk Communication

'Hushiyaaru' - Maldives' National Platform for Disaster Preparedness and Risk Communication

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Maldives, has launched Hushiyaaru website - the Maldives' first national platform for disaster preparedness and risk communication.

The Hushiyaaru platform serves as a one-stop digital hub providing timely, multilingual early warning alerts and practical resources to help every community in the Maldives stay informed and safe. The platform offers hazard-specific guidelines, awareness videos, downloadable posters, and toolkits, consolidating essential information to strengthen resilience and empower people to take informed action before, during, and after emergencies.

Accessible at https://www.hushiyaaru.mv, the platform can be explored in five languages. It has been designed to ensure inclusive access, particularly for persons with disabilities. The official launch of Hushiyaaru took place at a national event led by the NDMA to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDRR Day) which took place on 17 October 2025. During the event, UNDP, along with several other national partners in the disaster risk reduction space, showcased their ongoing contributions to disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and emergency response across the Maldives.

"NDMA is committed to uniting all stakeholders to strengthen disaster risk reduction efforts. In alignment with the Priority 4 of the Maldives Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy 2024-2030 - Empowering Communities for Effective Response - Hushiyaaru campaign combines education, outreach, and engagement across all sectors in both traditional and digital platforms. Initiated as a joint effort with the Maldivian Red Crescent, this campaign aims to build resilient communities across Maldives," stated Hisan Hassan, Chief Executive of NDMA.

"Hushiyaaru represents a major step forward in making disaster preparedness accessible to every community, and every island," said Andan Cheema, UNDP Resident Representative in the Maldives. "By centralizing early warnings and preparedness resources, we aim to empower people to act early, reduce risk, and build a more resilient Maldives."

The Hushiyaaru platform is made possible through generous contributions from the Governments of Denmark, Luxembourg and South Korea via UNDP's Funding Windows. As UNDP's primary mechanism for flexible and pooled thematic funding, Funding Windows enables UNDP to respond swiftly and comprehensively to needs and emerging challenges across the world.

This article is first published at UNDP Maldives website on Launch of 'Hushiyaaru' - Maldives' National Platform for Disaster Preparedness and Risk Communication

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