€36,000 raised in humanitarian aid for Libya

Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici appealed to the public to continue donating money at commercial banks as the crisis in Libya is not over.

The Civil Protection Department has moved into the second phase of aid which involves shipment of basic medical supplies and foodstuffs.

Director of the Civil Protection Department Patrick Murgo said that as soon as the crisis in Libya began preparations were made to ensure the welfare of evacuees from Libya, starting with the Maltese citizens living in Libya to EU nationals and nationals of third countries.

Murgo said the Civil Protection Department in Shipwright Wharf, Marsa had been turned into an area for temporary accommodation to be used as a spillover with tents to be used as medical areas, others used for temporary accommodation if existing facilities proved to be lacking.

Food rations and telephone lines have also been provided.

International organisations as well as local volunteers including ERFU, St John’s Ambulance and the Red Cross have all been assisting through the crisis.

Mifsud Bonnici thanked the Civil Protection Department and volunteers that made the evacuation process possible. He ensures that Malta is “a friend of the Libyan population” and that no distinction will be made between protestors and Gaddafi loyalists in the issue of humanitarian aid.

Mifsud Bonnici said that three Air Malta planes are being used to evacuate people from the Djerba border to Ghana and Chad. 50% of the costs are to be borne by the EU.