This comes after a fire broke out at a state-owned water desalination¹ plant in the capital city of Male last Thursday. 

 

So far, the crisis has left 130,000 people without running water, and lead to a dwindling² supply of bottled drinking water.

 

Liu Qiang, an official from the Chinese embassy in the Maldives, introduced the current situation. 

 

"Until now, the Maldives' Mega Global Air Service and China's southern airlines have jointly³ airlifted 57.5 tons of drinking water. At the same time, a state-owned enterprise in Maldives has airlifted 25 tons of water from Sri Lanka. Also, China's airforce has supplied 40 tons of bottle water via two military carriers, which arrived in Male last night." 

 

Liu adds that the Chinese navy has sent a supply ship carrying tons of water. The ship is due to arrive at the Maldives' port this afternoon. 

 

Hong Lei, Chinese foreign ministry⁴ spokesman, hails China's aid measures. He says China will consider further aid at the request of Maldives authorities. 

 

Earlier, the Maldives President Abdulla Yameen acknowledged that the water crisis was caused by lack of preparedness but insisted that his government had made strenuous⁵ efforts to bring the situation under control.

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