Malta’s Civil Protection Department has joined forces with their counterparts from Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Austria for training to deal with natural disasters, such as earthquakes.

A training exercise is being held at Għajn Tuffieħa on preparing shelter accommodation in case of emergency. This is the first of a series of training exercises planned to be held in the five countries.

Home Affairs Minister Carmelo said that under this EU programme PACES- Preparedness for Appropriate accommodation in Emergency Shelters, Malta’s Civil Protection was benefiting from €80,000. A total of €60,000 is funded by the EU with €20,000 coming from local funds.

The programme, is valued at €758,379 with €568,784 provided under the EU Civil Protection Funding Mechanism.

The  exercise comes only a year after a similar exercise held in Gozo which also involved Italian rescuers.

A total of 81 representatives participated in the latest training, 59 members of whom come from the participating countries and 22 members locally. The Maltese members come from various fields including CPD and their volunteers, police, AFM, the A&E Department at Mater Dei together with NGOs, including Red Cross Malta, St John Rescue, ERRC, EFRU and the Scouts. In the coming months, the participants will continue to train in the other four member states.