The Emergency Response and Rescue Corps has embarked in its first international overseas project.  The project is funded and supported by the Malta Overseas Development Aid Program run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It aims to provide safe drinking water in a disaster prone area in Waspan in Nicaragua.

The project entails the identification of the community needs and installation of wells. The community will be educated on how to up keep the wells and water quality monitoring.  There have been already discussions to directly involve the communities in the area in all stages of the project in the project.  Manual work is starting next week.

E.R.R.C. is a voluntary organization that operates in the field of humanitarian response. Disaster response, prevention and mitigation are other areas in which the ERRC operates.  The project is being done in close cooperation with Samaritan International, a worldwide relief organization. ERRC has achieved all the required standards so as to become a full member of Samaritan International, representing the Samaritans in Malta.

The Emergency Response and Rescue Corps’ Cadets together with the youths from Sant’ Antnin Centre, Ghajnsielem attended a two day live-in. Activities included rope walks, abseling, aerial runway, night games, night and day hikes, games where teamwork was induced, cookouts and many more… all fit in two days!

All cadets from both groups enjoyed the live-in and are looking forward for another one soon! 

On Saturday the 17^th of March, 2012, 11 cadets together with the two cadet leaders attended a hike that they had planned themselves the week before. Route was started at 17.30 from Marsalforn to Zebbug, through Wied l-Infern and back to Victoria by 19.30. The cadet enjoyed this and look forward to many other hikes and activities organized by the E.R.R.C. Cadet team.

Some cadets who attended hike

Planning the hike

From left to right: Mr Mario Saliba (ERRC vice president), Mr Etienne Micallef (ERRC Secretary General), Dr Raymond Xerri (ERRC President), Dr Laurence Gonzi (Prime Minister), Mr Charlie Abela (ERRC Committee Member), Mr Anthony Grech (ERRC Committee Member) and Mr Frankie Cutajar (ERRC Committee Member).

On Wednesday, 21 March, Committee members of the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps did a courtesy visit to  Dr Laurence Gonzi, Prime Minister of Malta at Auberge de Castille in Valletta. The Emergency Response and Rescue Corps is a voluntary organisation aimed to offer humanitarian services. The aim of this visit was to show what the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps have achieved in one year since its foundation in January 2011. During this meeting, the committee offered a number of proposals in which the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps could be of benefit to the Maltese Government. 

The Emergency Response and Rescue Corps is already offering ambulance support to the Gozo General Hospital to transfer patients from Gozo to Malta and vice versa on a daily basis.

The Corps is also accredited to run a number of courses ranging from First Aid and Basic Fire Fighting to industrial related courses like the Working At Heights courses. More information about all the courses is found on the Corps website www.errcmalta.com. 

Volunteers of the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps has recently been involved to set up a rope activity for a Birthday Party of a 3 year old child.