Host families sought for Beslan children

The International Charity Society will be inviting children from Beslan for holidays and rehabilitation in Malta following the traumatic September 3 school siege.

ICS said it was accepting bookings from Maltese families willing to house the children between December 17 and January 21.

Maltese families, including elderly couples and single persons interested in hosting a child are asked to call on 2125 2613 (office hours), 2169 2298 or 9942 9997.

ICS said this year's first group of Russian orphans brought over to Malta for their holidays returned to Russia on an Air Malta flight to Moscow yesterday.

The second group will leave Malta on Wednesday.

The society welcomed in Malta over 100 orphan children from five orphan homes in Russia for three and a half months. The children stayed with Maltese hosting families.

ICS said it was grateful to Maltese families for their generosity and Air Malta for its support. It also thanked the Archbishop, Mgr Joseph Mercieca, for welcoming the group of orphans to the Curia, Russian ambassador Valentin Vlasov for his support and the management of Fuego and the Splash and Fun Park.

ICS, which was formed six years ago, is also organising a charity mission to Russia between December 10-17.

People wanting to join the mission or donate new clothes, sweets, toys, stationery, medicine and anything that could be useful for the children should contact Albert Debono on 2138 9189 or 7949 8994.