Some 177 pallets of water were delivered to Tripoli this week by the Malta Red Cross Society during their fourth humanitarian mission to Libya.

"Although at face value the situation in Tripoli has improved since the fighting the Libyan people are still recovering from the war and their needs remain critical," Malta Red Cross disaster manager John Micallef Moreno said.

Rumours that the water supply was contaminated meant that the people quickly ran out of this basic necessity, he continued. They therefore relied on the goodwill of organisations to meet the high demand for potable water. The stock delivered yesterday was donated by the Civil Protection Department and the German Embassy to Malta.

While in Tripoli, the Malta Red Cross met up with the Libyan Red Crescent to carry out a needs assessment for upcoming missions which may include first aid courses for the Libyan volunteers.

"The Malta Red Cross is trying to maximise its efforts to meet the needs of the people across our shores," Mr Micallef Moreno said.

Since February 17 the local society has undergone four missions to Libya delivering several thousand tons of basic needs like food and water to the Libyan people. During their time there they also carried out assessments to maximise the affect of their efforts.

As from the start of the crisis, the Malta Red Cross Society has been very active in supporting the Libyan Red Crescent. "We had the obligation to help the people of Libya," President of the Malta Red Cross Society Joe Camilleri stated.

The society thanked the Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel for hosting them overnight during their last mission.

The Malta Red Cross is a non-governmental organisation run mainly by volunteers.

www.redcross.org.mt