CPD collects goods for Italy earthquake
Malta Red Cross says supplies would go to waste
The Civil Protection Department yesterday went ahead with plans to collect goods for the victims of the L'Aquila earthquake in Italy despite the insistence of the Malta Red Cross that the supplies would go to waste.
Together with police, Armed Forces, St John's Rescue Corps and the Emergency Fire and Rescue Department, the CPD collected items such as toys, food and blankets, as well as monetary donations in Palace Square, Valletta, yesterday.
By the end of the morning half a truckload of items had been collected, together with an unspecified amount of money.
CPD director Peter Cordina said the donations were satisfactory, and insisted they would not be wasted.
He reiterated his position that since his department had a twinning agreement with the Edelweiss Group, a voluntary organisation forming part of the Italian Red Cross, they were equivalent to an Italian branch.
A spokesman for the Red Cross in Italy had said warehouses were bursting with goods collected locally. For this reason they were asking national branches not to send more supplies but to focus on collecting funds.
The spokesman confirmed there was a list of required goods on the Italian Red Cross websites but this only applied to Italian Red Cross branches.
Mr Cordina said the Malta Red Cross had incorrectly interpreted the Italians' request to limit aid to funds.
The CPD will continue receiving donations at the Humanitarian Aid in Marsa, as well as through the BoV account number 4001 1546 461 or HSBC account number 0780 0239 1050. Funds will be sent to the Italian CPD.