Fainu

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Fainu (Dhivehi: ފައިނު) is an inhabited island in the Raa Atoll, also known as North Maalhosmadulu Atoll, in the Maldives. It lies between Kinolhas and Inguraidhoo, about 150 kilometers north of Malé, and a normal boat trip back to the capital takes more than 8 hours.

The island is about 1.325 km long and 0.5 km wide. Its population was 423 in 2022. Fainu is governed by the R. Fainu Council, led by President Ahmed Rishfan. The time zone is UTC+5.

Fainu has faced several environmental and development challenges. The 2000 Maldives Human Development Report noted irrigation problems on the island, and the 2002 State of the Environment Report highlighted beach erosion, a serious issue for the island. The December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami caused heavy damage in the atoll, including Fainu.

In 2018, the government proposed removing about two-thirds of the island’s vegetation to build an airport and a luxury hotel, which worried residents because it would reduce beach access. Activists argued that a domestic airport is already nearby.

Education is a major concern because, with a small population, many children must leave the island to attend secondary school. The first foreign teacher at Fainu School started in 2006. On May 31, 2004, Fainu won an award for no smoking from the World Health Organization.

Coordinates: 5°27′48″N 73°02′05″E.