Maldivian official says emergency relief operation almost complete

A Maldivian official has told Xinhua that the emergency relief operation in the Maldives is almost complete, The South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Blog says.

"The situation is under control," Adam Maniku, Deputy Minister of Maldivian Finance and Treasury Department told Xinhua in the National Disaster Management Center.

"That means nobody is dying, nobody is hungry, no diseases. Those who were displaced have been resettled to temporary centres," Maniku added. He said the relief operation is going to the second phase -- the reconstruction of the affected areas of the country. Maniku said he personally thinks the second stage will take at least five years.

Full article from Xinhua