Dhuvaafaru

Dhuvaafaru
ދުވާފަރު
Dhuvaafaru is located in Maldives
Dhuvaafaru
Dhuvaafaru
Location in Maldives
Coordinates: 05°37′42″N 73°02′30″E / 5.62833°N 73.04167°E / 5.62833; 73.04167
CountryMaldives
Administrative atollRaa Atoll
Distance to Malé168.83 km (104.91 mi)
Area
 • Total0.5416 km2 (0.2091 sq mi)
Dimensions
 • Length1.529 km (0.950 mi)
 • Width0.468 km (0.291 mi)
Population
 • Total4,478
 • Density8,300/km2 (21,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+05:00 (MST)

Dhuvaafaru (Dhivehi: ދުވާފަރު) is an inhabited island of Maldives located in the eastern edge of Raa Atoll. Resettlement of the island started on 14 December 2008 to inhabit the displaced residents of Kandholhudhoo (Raa Atoll) who were the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

The challenging task of resettling the tsunami victims and establishing a new island community on Dhuvaafaru was undertaken by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies under an agreement made with the Government of Maldives in May 2005.[2] Though Dhuvaafaru was uninhabited until recent history, there is physical and literary proof of the island being inhabited over 200 years ago. The famous wartime hero Dhandahelu — depicted in story of Maldives independence war against Portuguese invasion in 16th Century — is named after this island and is referred to in the historical literature as Dhuvaafaru Dhandahelu (meaning Dhandahelu from Dhuvaafaru).

  1. ^ "Table PP5: Resident Population by sex, nationality and locality (administrative islands), 2014" (PDF). Population and Households Census 2014. National Bureau of Statistics. p. 34. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Hussain Alifulhu: A brighter future in Dhuvaafaru, Maldives - IFRC". www.ifrc.org.