Only one Maltese citizen is not yet reached in South-East Asia. During a press conference on Wednesday evening, Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Frendo announced that the total number of Maltese who were hit by the natural disaster increased is now 151. The minister said that the Maltese national still missing is a woman who was on her way to Mandras, India with some French citizens. In fact, Maltese authorities are trying to contact French Embassies.
Four women and a man are still being treated in various Thailand hospitals. They are expected to be dismissed from hospital in around two-weeks time.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday afternoon, four youths have returned to Malta from Thailand. They were on the island of Koh Lanta when the tsunami happened. Commenting on their experience all of them said that they consider themselves as very lucky, since many people have died in the same area they were in.
Andrew Arrigo, Adam Triganza, Steve Gauci Baluci and Philip Toledo were the first Maltese nationals to return to Malta. Other Maltese nationals are expected to arrive on Thursday.
During the same conference, the Dr Frendo also said that the Humanitarian Organisation the SOS Malta will be sending three doctors in Sri Lanka, while two doctors who are employed with the Health Ministry will be given a vacation leave of one month to work in Thailand.
Next Sunday two donation points will be organised, one in Maria Regina school in Blata l-Bajda and the other in the secondary school Ninu Cremono of Victoria, Gozo. The most requested items are blankets, tents, tinned food and medicine.
The Malta Red Cross Society has launched an appeal for help and is asking for donations to assist the victims of the disaster. Donations can be made in the following bank accounts: HSBC 03314 337 1051 and/or BOV 40010344392.
The ministry is still inviting those people who need information about their relatives who were in Asia in the past days, to call on 79003879 or 79476382.
BBC news reported that the Red Cross has said that the number of dead from Sunday is likely to rise above 100,000. Moreover, the United Nations health agency has warned could double the death toll since the disaster zone is now threatened with outbreaks of disease.
So far, 80,000 people have been confirmed dead.
Meanwhile, aid agencies are warning that Delays in delivering aid to survivors could also cause thousands more deaths.
The 9.0 magnitude quake happened just off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra early on Sunday and set off huge waves that reached as far as Africa.
BBC also said that India is expected to install an early warning system to predict tsunamis.
See also:
8 Maltese citizens still missing in SE Asia
By MaltaMedia News - Dec 29, 2004, 16:00 CET
© Copyright 2004 - MaltaMedia Online Network
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