Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has signed agreements with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Maldives Meteorological Service (MMS) and Maldives Red Crescent (MRC) to strengthen emergency preparedness and crisis response at Velana International Airport (VIA).

The agreements will see MACL and the three agencies work more closely on emergency planning, response coordination and preparedness, including joint training programmes, simulation exercises, emergency drills and other capacity-building initiatives aimed at improving the airport's readiness to respond to crisis situations.

The memoranda of understanding were signed during a ceremony held under the theme Airport Crisis Management, attended by MACL Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed, Minister of State for Climate Change, Environment and Energy Ibrahim Mimrah, senior representatives of the partner agencies, MACL Deputy Managing Director Mujthaba Latheef, members of the company's Executive Committee and senior staff.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ibrahim Shareef said effective emergency response at the country's main international gateway depends on close cooperation among relevant agencies and continued preparedness. He noted that the agreements would further strengthen coordination in responding to emergencies at Velana International Airport.

The agreements form part of broader efforts to enhance emergency management at the airport through closer collaboration between key national agencies responsible for disaster management, weather monitoring and humanitarian response.