Former committee members and volunteers of the Gozo branch of the Malta Red Cross have set up a new organisation in order to enable them to continue their humanitarian activities.

The operations of the Gozo branch were officially suspended last November as disagreements between officials in Gozo and Malta erupted. Equipment used in Gozo was subsequently shipped to Malta and the Gozo office was closed.

The new organisation, called the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps, was formally set up earlier this month. Its first general meeting attracted more than 70 volunteers as well as all the former officials of the Gozo branch, except one who did not join for reasons which had nothing to do with the recent developments. The membership has since increased to 110.

The new corps announced its first activity today - a blood drive at the Blood Donation Department of the Gozo General Hospital next Saturday . The event will be held between 8 and 11 a.m. The corps urged all persons aged between 18 and 63 to call to donate blood.

A spokesman said the new organisation would 'start from scratch' and, after registration with the NGO Commissioner, it hopes to raise funds for an ambulance so that Gozo ambulance services may resume. The corps will also focus on first aid training and lifeguard services.

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