The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has launched the Damage Assessment and Loss Analysis (DALA) portal, marking a major step towards digitising disaster damage reporting and statistical management in the Maldives.
The launch ceremony was graced by Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihsan, and attended by Minister of Defence Ghassan Maumoon.
Developed under a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funding window, the DALA portal was created with assistance from Denmark, Luxembourg, and South Korea. The platform aims to digitise NDMA operations and improve the collection and management of disaster-related information.
The portal transforms the previously manual disaster damage assessment process into a secure, integrated digital system. It enables disaster information to be submitted online to relevant authorities and allows damage calculations and compensation processes to be completed through a single platform.
Speaking after launching the portal at Hotel Jen, Minister Ali Ihsan said the initiative aligns with President Mohamed Muizzu’s Maldives 2.0 vision. He said that for a country like the Maldives, improving awareness and access to real-time information during emergencies is critical.
“With DALA, information during a crisis can be viewed from a single platform, enabling faster responses and prioritisation of resources to areas where they are most needed,” the minister said.
He added that the national system now incorporates strong data collection and research capabilities, allowing the country to prepare for disasters rather than respond reactively.
“Long-term data collection will support national development planning and budgeting, while also strengthening institutional capacity. This is a core pillar of Maldives 2.0,” he said.
Speaking to the media following the ceremony, NDMA Chief Executive Hisan Hassan said the introduction of the DALA portal will fully digitise the authority’s operations.
He said the system will streamline the process of collecting disaster-related information and disbursing compensation, enabling affected individuals, local councils and relevant agencies to access all information from a single platform.
“All work on the system has been completed and it is now ready for operation. Users have been identified and access has been granted at various stages. With the launch this year, all phases of damage assessment and assistance will be delivered through the portal,” Hisan Hassan said.
He added that the system is expected to enhance public confidence in NDMA’s work, noting that preparations to provide access to communities and collect data from islands have been completed.
NDMA also confirmed that historical disaster data from the past five years has already been entered into the portal.