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Inauguration of the Malta Red Cross Disaster Preparedness Hub

This article first appeared in the Times of Malta.

The Malta Red Cross National Disaster Preparedness Hub, which was officially inaugurated today, can provide shelter for up to 500 people in the event of a large-scale national disaster, and facilitate the treatment of 100 people in an emergency medical tent.

The €62,000 Pembroke hub was inaugurated by Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela and Parliamentary Secretary for Health Chris Fearne.

Edward Gruppetta, President of the Malta Red Cross Society, said the site had once been abandoned and used as a dumping ground. The area has since been reclaimed and houses a large tent, backed by supplies, ambulances, boats and other essential equipment. The Malta Red Cross is prepared for emergencies and ready to assist in any event. As part of the international Red Cross and Red Crescent family, the Malta branch can also provide assistance abroad, he said.

Robert Brincau, Head of Operations at Malta Red Cross, said the hub provided a sense of security to the public who know they can rely on the Red Cross in the unlikely event of a mass catastrophe. He explained that the tent is also used to store items like food, clothes, blankets, tents and kitchen sets. 

Malta Red Cross also had emergency vehicles on display, including the ambulance fleet, quad bikes, a rescue boat, a jet ski, trucks and a mobile clinic. Mr Brincau pointed out that Malta Red Cross assisted some 1,600 people in the last year.

Mr. Fearne described the Malta Red Cross Society as a professional NGO which often worked hand in hand with the authorities. The society, he said, was automatically called in in situations like the recent Paqpaqli crash in Hal Far. “The Red Cross saved lives that day,” he said.

Mr. Fearne said the government was currently working on a new, more formal agreement with the society. This would lead to the further purchase of services from Red Cross by the government. The Parliamentary Secretary said the government had already purchased the service of an ambulance in Paceville over the Christmas period, assisting 140 people.

The agreement would also ensure that part of the response system for mass incidents would be pre-arranged with the Red Cross. The agreement would also make it possible for the government to call for help from the International Red Cross Society in scenarios where the local authorities and NGOs would not have sufficient resources.

Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said the government gave €14,000 every year to the society but this was not enough. “We have to see how our budget is allocated and how we can offer our assistance". Mr. Abela also spoke about migration and warned that closing certain migrant routes could lead to the opening of others.