Maltese CPD officials in Turkey recount shocking reality of devastating earthquakes

Feb 8 2023

In a recent call with Malta’s Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri, officials from within the Civil Protection Department have given an update of the situation in Turkey following a string of intense earthquakes which left thousands dead.

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On Tuesday, 17 Maltese Civil Protection officials specialising in search and rescue landed in Elazig, Turkey to attempt to contribute to the ongoing efforts to locate and extricate victims from the country’s earthquake disaster.

One of the team members highlighted how the sub-zero temperatures, language barriers and search & rescue methodology were amongst the challenges faced by the MUSAR team.

As of February 8 at 1PM, over 8,500 deaths were reported, with the toll expected to increase in the coming days. BBC News have reported that Turkey is in a state of political anger as a result of the government’s perceived failure in preparing for such disasters.

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Yellow weather warning as cyclone settles close to Malta

Feb 8 2023

The Malta International Airport weather page has released a yellow warning over strong easterly winds which will be hitting the Maltese islands starting today.

The weather warnings were also backed by Facebook page ‘It-Temp Madwarna’, a cyclone is set to settle close to the Maltese islands due to a Gulf of Gabes depression (low pressure weather system).

The page explains how the weather will remain cloudy and will feel very cold with temperatures approximately 4°C lower than the seasonal average.

Rainfall is also expected for Wednesday night moving into Thursday morning. Some stormy weather as well as hail is also being forecasted.

The wind force is set to be Force 6 on Wednesday, and is set to increase as the day goes on, up to around Force 8 by Friday. The sea is also expected to be very strong, with the catamaran service also expected to be halted until the storm passes.

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Rosianne Cutajar calls for national discussion on menstrual leave

Feb 8 2023

PL MP Rosianne Cutajar has called for a national discussion on menstrual leave during her parliamentary address on Tuesday.

Cutajar stated that menstrual leave is a type of leave granted to women who experience significant pain due to conditions such as endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and others.

There are women in Malta who face difficulties during their menstrual cycles and are unable to perform their daily routines, including work or school. Some women have even lost their jobs because of a lack of awareness about this issue.

Cutajar pointed out that globally, there is a scarcity of legislation dealing with menstrual leave. However, she mentioned a few countries like Japan, Taiwan, Zambia, and Spain, where this issue has been addressed legislatively.

The Spanish Parliament recently passed a bill on menstrual leave, which now awaits Senate approval.

Cutajar acknowledged that the topic of menstrual leave is highly stigmatised and in countries where it is allowed, many women opt not to take advantage of it due to fear of being stigmatised or losing job opportunities.

She also noted that doctors do not list menstrual pain as the reason for leave on medical certificates, to avoid discrimination by employers.

Cutajar expressed the need to bring this discussion to a national level, recognising that there will be resistance from social partners. There are several questions that need to be addressed, such as the number of leave days, who will pay for it, whether it will be part of sick leave or separate, and how to prevent abuse.

Cutajar emphasised that these issues must be considered when discussing this initiative to eliminate the stigma and support women’s health and rights.

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Newborn Syrian baby rescued from rubble in stable condition

Feb 8 2023

A baby girl was rescued in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on Monday.

The quake, with a magnitude of 7.8, caused widespread destruction and claimed thousands of lives. The newborn was rescued from the rubble of her collapsed home in the small town of Jindayris more than 10 hours after the earthquake struck.

Rescuers found the baby still tied to her mother by the umbilical cord, but unfortunately, her mother and other family members did not survive.

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A spokesman for UNICEF warned that thousands of children may have lost their lives in the quake. The baby, who suffered cuts and bruises, was rushed to a children’s hospital and placed in an incubator.

She is reportedly in stable condition as her other relatives attend to her.

The earthquake also claimed the lives of at least 6,200 people in Turkey and Syria, with the death toll expected to rise.

The rescue efforts have been hampered by aftershocks, including one that was almost as powerful as the first earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6. The Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, declared a state of emergency in the 10 affected provinces for at least three months.

Over 8,000 people have been rescued from the debris in Turkey and 380,000 have taken refuge in government shelters or hotels. People spent the night outside in blankets, gathering around fires, while others huddled in shopping malls, stadiums, mosques, and community centres.

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