Mission to save the Maldive Islanders

Aviva Archive · Jun 12, 2009

I am hoping that some one will be able to give me more information on a mission in 1944 to take supplies to the inhabitants of the Maldive Islands who were, according to the newspaper cutting I have, nearing starvation. Apparently their plight was uncovered during a reconnaissance trip by Flight Lieutenant Donald E Walker who wrote a report on their situation and was entrusted with the job of rectifying it. He died when the ship on which he was returning from this mission was sunk with all hands. Does anyone have any more information about this?

Kyt · Jun 12, 2009

It seems Walker was on HMS Maaloy, which was sunk by Uboat.

As to what was happening on the Maldives at that time, the following report in the National Archives may be of help

CO 54/987/9 Maldive Islands: reports on conditions

The National Archives | The Catalogue | Quick reference | CO 54/987/9

Kyt · Jun 12, 2009

The Times reposrts that there was an earthquake centering on the Maldives on 1/2 March 1944. I wonder whether caused the problems and starvation

Aviva Archive · Jun 12, 2009

Thank you so much - I'm putting together a Roll of Honour for our staff who died in the war and Walker was one of them.

Kyt said: ↑

It seems Walker was on HMS Maaloy, which was sunk by Uboat.

As to what was happening on the Maldives at that time, the following report in the National Archives may be of help

CO 54/987/9 Maldive Islands: reports on conditions

The National Archives | The Catalogue | Quick reference | CO 54/987/9
Click to expand...

Kyt · Jun 12, 2009

An introduction to Mohamed Ameen, for those who love truth in history - translation of 20th century history of maldives, iyye, yesterday, chapter 4

Flight Lieutenant Walker and food in WW2 Maldives
Maldivians were under the protection of the colonial power of the British who accepted their responsibility to provide food for Maldivians during World War 2. They sent a person from the RAF in Colombo. He was called Lieutenant Walker and he conducted some research, touring the north and south of the country. Everywhere, he saw 'savages' who were incapable of doing anything. It was rumoured that Walker held a meeting with the nobles of Male'. The official translator at the time was Ibrahim Hilmy Didi.

Mohamed Ameen was the ruler in Maldives (Hassan Fareed had moved to Ceylon), and his advisors were Ibrahim Faamladeyri Kilegefan and Ali Kuda Rannabandeyri Kilegefan. In addition, Abdullah Jalaludeen and Mohamed Naseer Manik were among those with whom discussions were held.

The information Walker heard at the meetings made him furious. He said that because the British did not come to rule in Maldives in 1887, everything had gone wrong, and that a commercial co-operative could only be run by importing English officers and Sinhalese staff.

From the very first day Walker appeared in Male', Ali Kuda Rannabandeyri Kilegefan said that the British were just looking for an opportunity to take away the internal independence of Maldives. He said the best safeguard against such a move would be to start providing education to the people immediately.
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Inquiry into Food Conditions in the Maldive Islands and Investigation into Difficulties of the Maldivian Fishing Industry – 4 January 1944
by Flight Lieutenant Walker

Starvation was worse in the northern islands due to a decreased fish catch. This decreased income from fish while import prices were increasing.

'It would appear that the government have made a great effort looking to their difficulties of finance and communication, to alleviate suffering, but that a combination of many unfavourable circumstances has been too much for them.'

His scheme for importing more food by guaranteeing fish exports is acclaimed, but impeded by cabinet. 'They were wary that the Civil Defence Commissioner was a Sinhalese and the elderly cabinet members did not want to enter into any agreement with a Sinhalese.' This was the 'chief difficulty’ with the scheme. The younger ones were less prejudiced. They were happy with an amendment which meant their fish guarantees were to the British commander-in-chief, and not a Sinhalese.

The total population of Maldives in 1942 was 94,057 people.

'The illness of Mr Ameen Didi from malaria left the Maldivian ship of state completely rudderless.'

The only fish suitable for curry are bonito, rather larger tunny, and ragodi.
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Kyt · Jun 12, 2009

maldives timeline 1900 Feb 2006

December 1943 - British Flight Lieutenant Walker arrives in Maldives to investigate wartime food shortages and the Maldive fishing industry.

4 January 1944 - Inquiry into Food Conditions in the Maldive Islands and Investigation into Difficulties of the Maldivian Fishing Industry released by Flight Lieutenant Walker.

The report says starvation was worse in the northern islands due to a decreased fish catch. This decreased income from fish while import prices were increasing. ‘It would appear that the government has made a great effort looking to their difficulties of finance and communication, to alleviate suffering, but that a combination of many unfavourable circumstances has been too much for them.’

Walker’s scheme for importing more food by guaranteeing fish exports is acclaimed by some, but impeded by cabinet in Maldives. ‘They were wary that the Civil Defence Commissioner was a Sinhalese and the elderly cabinet members did not want to enter into any agreement with a Sinhalese.’ This was the ‘chief difficulty’ with the scheme. The younger ones were less prejudiced. They were happy with an amendment which meant their fish guarantees were to the British commander-in-chief, and not a Sinhalese.

Walker comments that ‘the illness of Mohamed Ameen from malaria left the Maldivian ship of state completely rudderless.’

February 1944 - Rebellion in Addu after two militia leaders from Malè, Buchaa Hassan Kaleyfan and Dada Kasim Kaleyfan, are stationed in Addu to prevent any food trading or transfer of items between Addu islanders and members of the British base.

Buchaa and Dada Kasim’s abuse, beatings and torture, and abuse of women, led to a small revolt in Hithadhoo. Buchaa is protected by the British on Hithadhoo until the arrival of Hassan Fareed to assess the situation.

March 1944 - British governor in Ceylon writes, ‘Abdul Majid seems not to have given any final answer to the offer to him of the throne, but he appears to keep in correspondence with the Maldivian government as a sort of distant advisor. The Council of Regency continues to function satisfactorily.’

Hassan Fareed assures the people of Hithadhoo that all is forgiven and there will be no retribution for the attacks on Buchaa and his men. Fareed takes Buchaa with him when he leaves. The British vessel lands Buchaa at an atoll south of Malè, and then Fareed cruises directly towards Ceylon.

31 March 1944 - Hassan Fareed, the son of Abdul Majeed, declared dead after Japanese submarine sinks the British vessel HMS Malloy carrying him and British Flight Lieutenant Walker and others between Maldives and Ceylon. Mohamed Ameen, who has been ruling in Maldives as Fareed’s proxy, now becomes a virtual dictator answerable only to his uncle Abdul Majeed who lives in Egypt.
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spidge · Jun 12, 2009

Something about Lt Walker here:

Maldives - Mohamed Ameen, the famine and the failure of the First republic

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans serif]Mohamed Ameen and the failure of the First republic
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans serif]Part 2 (final) of the story of 20th century 'famines' in Maldives[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans serif]by Abdul Hakeem Hussein Manik
Everyglory house
Machangoalhi ward
Malé, Maldives 1999
translated by Maldives Culture editors, with assistance from Majid Abdul-Wahhab[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans serif]Mohamed Ameen marching with daughter Ameena (right) and Jameela Ibrahim Didi (left)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans serif]The war ended in 1945, and due to Mohamed Ameen's failure to follow the British Lieutenant Walker's advice, the Maldive people experienced extreme hardship. Many people migrated from Gulhi island in Malé atoll, but others died. This was what happened in many islands.

Meanwhile 25,000 rupees a month in foreign currency was sent overseas to pay for the living expenses of Abdul Majeed Rannabandeyri Kilegefaan, his younger son and associates, and about half a dozen elderly people with them. This arrangement continued for a long time. There is no reason why the leaders of the country should escape responsibility for people starving to death during WW2 in Maldives.
[/FONT]
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Also there seemed to be a core of corruption and profit taking by businessmen who were making huge sums of money due to the shortage.

The story of 20th century famines in Maldives

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Mission to save the Maldive Islanders

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