Mal©: The Maldives is seeking urgent international assistance to adapt to climate change, Abdulla Muththalib, Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development of the Maldives, said during the special session titled 'Inclusive Urban Resilience, Blue Economy and Sustainable Tourism in Small Island Developing States' held within the framework of WUF13, APA-Economics reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the minister stated that the Maldives consists of 1,200 islands, 187 of which are inhabited. He highlighted that the country's constitution mandates the provision of essential services on all inhabited islands, posing a significant financial burden on the nation.

Abdulla Muththalib emphasized that coastal erosion is one of the most pressing challenges for the Maldives, requiring substantial financial resources to protect the islands. He stressed that without urgent support from international partners, adapting to climate change and ensuring the economic sustainability of the islands will be challenging.

The minister further explained that concentrating the population on a smaller number of islands is considered an important adaptation measure for the Maldives. He called on international donors to provide financial support to facilitate this strategy.