Hanimaadhoo Council says only a small number of Hirimaradhoo residents are interested in relocating to Hoarafushi

HDh. Hanimaadhoo Council on Thursday said that while the registration window for residents wishing to relocate from HDh. Hirimaradhoo to HA. Hoarafushi will close in 10 days, only a small number of people have expressed interest so far.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu issued a resolution in late December last year to remove the sparsely populated Hirimaradhoo from the list of inhabited islands in Maldives. Administrative responsibility for the island was transferred to Hanimaadhoo Council on May 17, the day the new councillors were sworn in.

On June 24, Hanimaadhoo Council officially invited Hirimaradhoo residents to relocate to Hoarafushi, giving them 30 days to register their interest.

Speaking to Sun, Hanimaadhoo Council Vice President Firaq Mohamed said many residents of Hirimaradhoo are not interested in moving to Hoarafushi. He did not disclose the exact number of people who have registered.

Firaq said some residents contacted the council to ask whether the government would build housing units for them in Hoarafushi. “The government has no intention of building houses for them anywhere other than Hanimaadhoo,” he said, adding that the council had no further information to provide.

He said the government will build free housing units in Hanimaadhoo if residents choose not to relocate to Hoarafushi on their own.

It is worth noting that Housing Minister Dr. Abdullah Muthalib told Parliament on Monday that Hanimaadhoo Council was not cooperating in the construction of housing units for Hirimaradhoo residents in Hanimaadhoo. In response, Firaq on Wednesday questioned what exactly the ministry meant by “lack of cooperation”. On Thursday, he said the council has now sent a letter to HDC requesting a meeting with Hirimaradhoo residents.

Hirimaradhoo has a registered population of 589, though many have migrated. The island currently has around 200 residents. According to the latest census, Hanimaadhoo has a population of 2,645.

Hirimaradhoo Council had initially requested the government to relocate residents to K. Thulusdhoo. However, in February last year, the government announced its decision to relocate the population to Hanimaadhoo instead. In August, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu visited Hirimaradhoo and pledged to provide a housing unit for every plot of land on the island. He said the units would be completed within a maximum of 18 months and handed over to residents.