The government said that it will launch regeneration projects in areas that were impacted by Storm Harry, and will also support those who were affected by the storm.
At a meeting held at Castille, attended by a number of Cabinet Ministers together with the leadership of entities, agencies, authorities, and disciplined forces in the country, Prime Minister Robert Abela said that the Government's work following the severe storm that hit the country this week is proceeding along three tracks: Removing any danger; Providing the necessary assistance and ensuring that no one is left alone; Repairing the damage and regenerating the affected areas.
The Prime Minister thanked all the workers who responded with great dedication to assist during the storm and immediately afterwards, carrying out cleaning operations and removing immediate dangers. He noted how our country was prepared to face the storm, with no deaths or serious injuries reported.
The Prime Minister said that when the country is faced with challenges, it has always found a Government that stands shoulder to shoulder with the people. He added that the economy allows the country to provide assistance, "and that is why no one should be left on their own, including families and business owners who suffered damage and are facing considerable expenses." In this context, reference was made to a number of existing forms of assistance for business owners through schemes such as Microinvest and the Business Development Scheme, as well as others that need to be created for farmers, livestock breeders, and fishermen. In the discussion the National Social and Development Fund (NSDF) was also mentioned, through which funds are used to finance the necessary work and assistance.
The Prime Minister pointed out that, in addition to the coordinated effort by authorities to receive reports of damage caused by Storm Harry, the response phase is also important to ensure that assistance reaches those in need effectively. In this regard, Principal Permanent Secretary Tony Sultana stated that the Government and the public administration are currently gathering all the information needed to assess the damage left behind by Storm Harry. He said that, at the same time, anyone seeking further information can do so by calling 153 or by sending an email with full details to [email protected].
Prime Minister Robert Abela also said that in the coming months, areas affected by the storm - particularly coastal locations such as Għar Lapsi, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Sliema, and Xgħajra - must be restored. He said that Għar Lapsi is currently closed due to the danger and so that work will begin so that part of the area will be ready in the coming months and can be reopened to the public.
During the meeting, the Head of the Secretariat of the Office of the Prime Minister, Colonel Mark Mallia, also referred to the implementation of the work required to regenerate affected areas and to ensure that affected families and businesses receive assistance to cover expenses related to the damage.
It was also stated that in the coming days, a nationwide general clean-up will be carried out by the Cleansing and Maintenance Division, following the focused work in recent days to clean affected areas. In addition, general maintenance will be undertaken across the country. Infrastructure Malta carried out work in the affected areas, while Transport Malta intervened around 50 times through its officers to ensure road safety after trees, road signs, and billboards were dislodged.
A report on several precautionary and preventive measures that proved effective, including those taken by the Water Services Corporation, was presented at the meeting. Through a contingency plan involving water storage and reserves, the corporation was able to continue supplying customers despite the extensive damage suffered by certain reverse osmosis plants, such as those in Lapsi, Pembroke, and Ħondoq ir-Rummien.
"Other sectors were also mentioned, including construction, where it was stated that cooperation was shown by the industry and that inspections and evaluations are being carried out on structures affected by the force of the storm. This was in addition to voluntary organisations that suffered damage to the buildings from which they operate, and assistance will also be directed towards them," the statement read.
"During the meeting, it was explained that within a 48-hour period, the disciplined forces received more than 700 calls for assistance. In the last few hours, there was also a case of containers falling overboard from a vessel outside our territorial waters. An appeal was made for caution and vigilance among seafarers due to the potential danger that may arise at sea."