Over the past years, the Civil Protection Department (CPD) has benefited from around Lm7 million worth of equipment, vessels and training, funded by the fifth Italian Protocol, said Justice and Internal Affairs Tonio Borg yesterday.

Dr Borg was speaking at the opening of a new complex housing the Marine Unit and Humanitarian Assistance Unit at the Civil Protection Department in Paola.

“Security is not only a national issue limited to

certain countries but is a trans-national struggle against terrorism,” said Dr Borg.

He pointed out that the CPD receives around 6,000 calls for help a year. Between January and July, the CPD received 600 calls for help with oil spills on land.

“Unfortunately, the CPD also received a higher number of hoax calls this year – a total of 237 false alarms during the first seven months,” said Dr Borg.

He strongly condemned these irresponsible acts and said he will look into the possibility of amending the law to create harsher penalties for hoax callers.

“These phone calls are not funny, but acts that can kill someone who is truly in need of assistance,” he said.

Malta was always generous in times of need, said Dr Borg, and the Humanitarian Assistance Unit is a step towards improving this service.

He spoke about the never-ending generosity of the Maltese people, especially in respect of such recent international disasters as the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. He added that last week the provisions collected by the CPD arrived in Lebanon.

“Back in 1905, the Maltese were the first to arrive and provide assistance in Messina following the earthquake,” he pointed out.

CPD head Peter Cordina said new units could not have been set up without the teamwork of the entire unit and he praised all those involved for their efforts.

William Grant from the US Embassy said the US was proud of its close collaboration with Malta and added that several joint training exercises had taken place between members of the Customs Service, the Armed Forces of Malta and the CPD.