Aid for earthquake victims

The Malta Red Cross is supporting the appeal by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for victims of the Indonesian earthquake which struck last Saturday.

The federation has appealed for €7.68 million to support the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) in providing assistance to the survivors of the earthquake, which struck the island of Java on Saturday.

The death toll has topped 5,000 and some estimates put the injured at 20,000. Around 200,000 people have been made homeless.

The Maltese can assist the victims of the disaster by making donations in the following bank accounts: HSBC 033143371052; BOV 40015157458.

For further information one may phone the Red Cross on 2122 2645 or send an e-mail to redcross@redcross.org.mt.

Meanwhile, Caritas Malta in conjunction with Caritas Internationalis has also made an appeal for money to help people who lost relatives and their homes in the earthquake.

Donations can be given to parish priests in the various parishes or presented to Caritas in Floriana or sent to Caritas Malta Fund Indonesia, Caritas (Malta), Lion Street, Floriana.

Money can also be deposited in bank accounts: APS No. 2000043083-1; HSBC 40015159278 and BOV 089021513051.

The Civil Protection Department will be collecting blankets, tents, water, foodstuffs (tinned or packed) and medicines (antibiotics).

Collections will run between today and Friday and local councils have been asked to act as collection sites. So far, the Zabbar, Ghasri and Gharb councils have agreed to this request and others are expected to follow suit.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, schools will be asking students to provide one item according to the list which will be collected by Friday.

On Saturday, the Scouts Headquarters at Hamrun will be open all day for those who wish to deliver items.