The government of the Maldives has expressed solidarity to the government and people of Mauritius over the oil spill in the East African island nation.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives Abdulla Shahid sent a message to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade of Mauritius, Nandcoomar Bodha, expressing solidarity concerning the ongoing oil spill crisis in Mauritius. In the message, Minister Shahid expressed deep concerns over the oil spill in Mauritius, causing unprecedented ecological damage and a negative impact on the nation’s economy.
Noting the ocean remains an integral part of the respective economies, the cultures and the daily lives of both countries, the foreign minister said given the close proximity and identical topography, the Maldives is profoundly saddened by the situation presented with this ecological crisis. Further, he said the situation is also a stark reminder of the vulnerability of the ecosystems to man-made disasters of this magnitude.
The minister highlighted that Maldives strongly believe that efforts to mitigate similar disasters on the fragile natural environment must take priority in the international fora. The minister expressed commitment to work together with renewed impetus, to achieve environmental sustainability nationally, and globally.