HRCM expresses concern over power outage and interruption of basic services in Muli

Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) has expressed concern over the prolonged power outage and interruption of basic services in Muli island of Meemu atoll.

The island lost electricity some time on Wednesday morning due to an issue of both generators which supply power to the island. Since then, electricity has not been restored to Muli, the island council said.

In light of this HRCM said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the situation is being monitored by the Commission and that discussions are being held with relevant agencies to expedite a solution.

The Commission's statement further said that it is deeply concerned about the prolonged power outage which is a basic need, and that this would also affect the public's access to other basic rights as well.

"[We] call onto all relevant agencies to provide a quick solution to this. [And] this Commission will continue to closely monitor the situation until it is resolved," HRCM wrote.

State owned enterprise FENAKA, which is responsible for electricity supply on the island, said that the company has been working to restore electricity to the island since the power outage. They detailed that a new 600 kilowatt generator has now been brought to the island is in the process of becoming operational.

Muli's island council member Ahmed Sakif said that many on the island, which has a population of over 1,500 people, did not sleep last night due to the disruptions the power outage has caused. In light of this, schools and offices on the island were also closed today.

"We're struggling a lot. Since yesterday, we have been providing electricity to places that need it the most, such as hospitals, every half an hour," Sakif said.