A 13-year-old child in the Maldives tragically died due to a delay in receiving essential medical treatment. The delay was reportedly caused by the alleged reluctance of the Maldivian government to utilize Indian choppers for medical evacuation. India had previously provided two naval choppers and a Dornier aircraft for medical evacuation and disaster recovery purposes. However, the fate of these assets is now uncertain given the Maldivian government’s insistence on expelling Indian military personnel responsible for their operations and maintenance.
The child, who was located in Gaafu atoll, could not be transferred to the capital Male in time, leading to his unfortunate death. The family of the deceased has attributed the tragedy to the delay in his transfer to Male. This incident has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the medical evacuation system in the Maldives.
President Mohamed Muizzu has requested that Indian troops be withdrawn from the Maldives by March 15, despite ongoing talks between officials from both countries to find a workable solution to the issue. The demand for the withdrawal of Indian troops has cast a cloud of uncertainty over the future use of Indian choppers and aircraft for disaster recovery and medical evacuation in the Maldives.
In response to the criticism regarding the government’s reluctance to use Indian choppers, Maldives Defense Minister Mohamed Ghassan stated that 93% of evacuations are still being carried out by Maldivian Airlines. He further explained that the standard operation procedures for medical operations do not require notifying or seeking permission from the President and that coordination among relevant institutions is key.
The outcome of the discussions between India and the Maldives will have significant implications for the future cooperation and assistance between the two countries in the realms of disaster management and medical emergencies. Resolving the current impasse is crucial to ensure the timely and effective evacuation and medical support for the people of the Maldives in times of emergencies and natural disasters.
