The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has submitted a case to the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM), calling for the delayed relocation of Haa Dhaalu Hirimaradhoo residents to Hanimaadhoo to be treated as a serious issue.

MDP National Committee member Ali Niyaz said the party had conducted fact-finding work on the situation of Hirimaradhoo residents. He said more than 300 people live on the island and are facing difficulties due to inadequate government services.

Niyaz said the government should either expedite the relocation and provide more than 180 housing units in Hanimaadhoo, or revoke the decision declaring Hirimaradhoo an uninhabited island and hold fresh council elections there.

He said the government had failed to meet the 18-month timeframe set for relocating residents and that construction sites for the planned housing units had not yet been cleared.

The government has assigned the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to construct housing units for Hirimaradhoo residents in Hanimaadhoo.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has previously said houses would be built on all 154 plots in Hirimaradhoo under the relocation agreement.