Update 2: Donations to earthquake victims continue to grow

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Donations in aid to the victims of the massive Haiti earthquake continued to pick up this afternoon, with a company even donating a large truckload of fruit juice and water.

The collection is being made by the Civil Protection Department.

Deputy Director Patrick Murgo said response had been good.

The CPD intends to send containers of humanitarian aid to the earthquake victims as well as to the victims of heavy flooding in Albania.

Mr Murgo said the CPD is calling for blankets and bedding, clothes, water, tinned food and medicine.

The collection continues today and tomorrow, up to 4 p.m. but staff will stay on for longer if people continue to call.

The CPD warehouse is behind the Marsovin winery and can be reached by turning left from the roundabout just before Mcast (as one drives up from Marsa to Paola). Donations are also being received at the Gozo Heliport.

International aid has started to trickle into Haiti but the situation is getting so desperate that the authorities have expressed fears of a breakdown of law and order. The Haiti Foreign Minister said earlier today that the number of dead may even rise to 200,000.

A Maltese missionary, Bro Anthony Mercieca, who used to work in Haiti was in Guatemala at the time of the earthquake, having been posted there recently, timesofmalta.com was told by his congregation.

MONETARY DONATIONS

In Malta, a number of organisations are accepting donations both in cash and in kind to assist the Haiti earthquake victims.

The Salesians of Don Bosco, who saw more than half their 11 schools in Haiti destroyed, are calling on the public to help earthquake victims by sending a cheque to Fr Eric Cachia, Salesian Oratory, 20, Karm Galea Street, Sliema or on Salesians: Emergency Haiti HSBC account 085111 995050.

Caritas Malta has also set up the Caritas Haiti Fund, and donations can be made by cheque to Caritas Malta, 5, Lion Street, Floriana FRN 1514 or on the following bank accounts: APS account 20000887495, BOV account 40018761294 and HSBC account 08902151305.

The Civil Protection Department will also receive monetary donations may also be made in BOV account 40018758443 and HSBC account 078002391050.