Vice President, Faisal Naseem has updated the UNDP Resident Representative, Akiko Fujii with the latest information in the aftermath of the chemical fire in Male’ City.

The Vice President presented the information at a courtesy call by the UNDP Representative at the President’s Office today.

Vice President Naseem said that the relevant authorities are working under the instructions from President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to take the necessary steps.

Speaking about the ongoing Youth Climate Summit in New York, the UNDP Representative emphasized the role of Maldives’ youth in joining the call to climate action and noted that the Maldives could play a guiding role in the international stage to ensure a more “livable planet” for the future.

She further applauded the administration’s efforts to strengthen bilateral and multilateral engagement and assured UNDPs commitment to working with the Maldives in issues of mutual concern.

Stressing that the Maldives is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, the Vice President spoke about the importance of protecting and preserving our fragile ecosystem on which our tourism is heavily dependent. He noted that due to concerted efforts of the administration, relevant authorities and civil societies, awareness on climate change is growing at a fast pace especially among the youth and student populations.

He also thanked the representative and UNDP for their continued support to the administration and the civil society towards finding solutions to persistent developmental challenges.

During the meeting, the representative also presented a copy of “Youth Vulnerability Assessment in the Maldives”; an extensive research conducted through the collaborative efforts of the National Counter Terrorism Centre and UNDP Maldives with support from the Government of Japan, to the Vice President.