Stranded Somalis Receive Temporary Shelter, Says Police

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has disclosed that a group of Somali nationals stranded on an uninhabited island in Noonu Atoll has been provided temporary shelter, and three men have been relocated to Holhudhoo with assistance from the local council.

The men travelling on a small dinghy were found ashore on Noonu Vavathi, an island currently leased for agricultural use. Authorities confirmed that the group, having fallen into the dinghy, was stranded at sea before being brought to safety.

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Photos released by the police show the men seated on a bench near the beach, with their small dinghy, which is equipped with an outboard marine engine, nearby. This incident highlights the geographical of the Maldives to Somalia, situated just over 3,000 kilometres to the west.

There have been previous occurrences of Somali pirates entering Maldivian waters, raising concerns about maritime security in the region. However, the circumstances of this particular incident are still under investigation.