40 Civil Protection officers are to be deployed to Portugal to support efforts against wildfires triggered by an intense heatwave, drought, and water shortages currently affecting the country.

The Government said that the first contingent of 20 officers have departed Malta today.

It noted that “with the skills and resources of the Civil Protection Department today, the Maltese public will continue to receive an excellent service locally, while Maltese firefighters also extend their assistance to other countries in need.”

This is not the first mission of its kind. In recent years, the Department has provided support in similar circumstances in Greece, as well as in extraordinary situations in Turkey and Libya.

The deployment to Portugal will mark the fifth international operation carried out by Maltese firefighters in just two years – “missions that have proven to be not only commendable but also invaluable,” the Government said.

During a visit to the officers before their departure, the Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Employment Byron Camilleri, highlighted the unprecedented investment made in recent years in equipment, training, and working conditions.

“From a department once reliant on second-hand equipment, we have transformed it into one of the most efficient and professional units, providing peace of mind to the Maltese people,” said Minister Byron Camilleri.

The Director General of the Civil Protection Department, Peter Paul Coleiro, assured that despite the deployment, the Department will continue to have sufficient resources to provide its full service to the Maltese and Gozitan public, thanks to ongoing investment.

He concluded with an appeal for greater public awareness of the fire risks in dry rural areas during the summer months.

Photo: DOI

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