Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb has stated that Maldivians were not the type of people who would prefer refugee status and settle abroad.
Adeeb said that there were many ecological issues facing the nation. However, he said that Maldivians gave priority to resolving the issue and stay in the country.
Minister Adeeb stated that international aid and local initiatives have assisted the situation and that Maldivians were always prepared for such instances.
He said that those who leave the country and seek asylum in foreign countries at the slightest issue, were those who had no regard for the state of the nation.
Many have raised the question if the best solution for rising sea levels was to emigrate and settle in another country. The recent environmental issues that had occurred in the Asian region had posed many questions for Maldivians.
UNTWO Secretary General TalibRifai stated last Wednesday that Maldives should focus on maintaining and securing the available natural resources in the country. He stressed on the importance of unity in carrying out such an exercise.
Maldivians are not the type to settle abroad: Adeeb
