Japan's Official Development Assistance White Paper 2006
Box II-4 About the Receipt of the "Green Leaf" National Environmental Award from the Maldives
In June 2006 the Government of Maldives presented the "Fehifaiy" (Green Leaf) National Environmental Award to the people of Japan. This is an award granted to individuals and groups that have contributed to environmental conservation in the Maldives. The award reflects the Maldivian government's high acknowledgment of the sea wall facilities constructed under Japan's assistance, as they protected the country's capital Male from massive tsunami waves that were caused by the Sumatra earthquake in December 2004.
Before the sea wall facilities were built, Male Island had suffered repeated floods caused by tidal waves, since the island stands barely one meter above sea level on a flat landscape. In 1987 in particular tidal waves which originated in western Australia flooded one third of the island, paralyzing the capital city. In an emergency project, Japan built sea walls in the southern parts of Male Island from the same year to 1989. Japan further began in 1994 to build and improve sea walls along the west, east, and south coasts of the island. In 2002 the construction of sea wall facilities was completed around Male Island in grant aid cooperation worth about 7.5 billion yen.
Shortly afterwards, the Sumatra earthquake occurred in December 2004, followed by massive tsunami waves that devastated coastal countries of the Indian Ocean on an unprecedented scale. Hit by the tsunami, Male Island nevertheless fended them off, shielded by the sea wall facilities built under Japan's assistance. Thus the island succeeded in minimizing the damage caused and protecting its many residents and their living environment. Maldivian media covered the story that Male Island had been guarded by the sea walls built under Japan's assistance, reporting comments from local residents to the effect that Japan's assistance had saved them and that Male would have no longer existed had there not been the walls built by Japan.
These moves brought the Fehifaiy National Environmental Award to the people of Japan. At the award ceremony of the commemorative plaque, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom expressed deep appreciation, saying "We highly evaluate Japan's ODA project and cordially thank the people of Japan for their generous and warm assistance."
The plaque commemorating the "Fehifaiy" (Green Leaf) National Environmental Award of Maldives
President Gayoom of Maldives hands over the plaque to Minister Nobuaki Ito