The news and images of the tsunami disaster appealed to the constant generosity of the Maltese and Gozitans. Yesterday morning at 10, the first batch of 46 containers left Hal Far for the Freeport, from where they will start their two-and-a-half week journey to Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo today.

The police escorted the long trail of containers, while volunteers and the public came to see this cargo of donations off.

A lot of hard work went into these donations. Immediately the call for donations was sent out, the Maltese and Gozitans responded, providing medicines, food, blankets and clothes, enough to fill 46 containers. Many even volunteered to give a hand to help with the packing and sorting.

Behind the scenes there are many people who really gave of themselves, who put aside their jobs and their family to ensure that the victims receive the generous donations of the Maltese as soon as possible. Among these are the volunteers of St John’s Ambulance who were at the Hal Far station having a well-deserved lunch break yesterday after an especially tiring morning.

“When I saw all the containers leaving for the Freeport, tears came to my eyes. At that moment I felt so proud to be Maltese and felt that all the Maltese and Gozitans were united through their generosity,” Stanley Cardona, a volunteer with St John’s Ambulance said. The other volunteers agreed and pointed out that although the past week had been extremely exhausting, it was well worth the effort. They said they were proud to see all that Malta donated.

St John’s Ambulance had a team of 30 volunteers– each one giving a hand whenever possible. Some volunteers like nurse Vicky Vincenti put this cause before their jobs and families often working up to 12-hour shifts. Student nurses like Graziella Pace came and helped out between the 12-hour shifts at hospital.

In the past three days, with the help of volunteers, they managed to pack the 46 containers which left this morning. They had to wrap the medicines in plastic to prevent breakage during the trip and checked the expiry dates on the medicines and food items. Only a few items were past their expiry date.

The local agent of CMA shipping company has offered to ship another 10 containers.

The Maltese are being asked to donate water and tinned fish, as those are the items the government of Sri Lanka has particularly asked for. The donation point is the Hal Far fire station; CPD personnel will be there all day today and tomorrow.

However, Mr Cardona added that both donations and volunteers will still be needed in the future. “Once the situation has calmed down, there will still be the need for volunteers and donations and it is important that the Maltese continue being generous,” he said.