'Pretend it's camping'

ITALIAN Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi caused outrage yesterday by telling earthquake survivors to treat their ordeal like it was a camping trip.

Silvio Berlusconi Silvio Berlusconi

The gaffe-prone premier said the 18,000 people who have lost houses, family and friends were enjoying plenty of home comforts at “tent city” camps.

Berlusconi, 72, dismissed suggestions that victims were enduring freezing mountain temperatures and that some were without tents and basic provisions.

As the death toll reached 267, including 16 children, he told a television station: “They have everything they need, they have medical care, hot food.

“Of course, their current lodgings are a bit temporary. But they should see it like a weekend of camping.”

He also advised survivors, who include 98-year-old Maria D’Antuono, who sat in the rubble of her bedroom for 30 hours before being rescued, to head for hotels on the Italian coast – adding that they should “put some sun block on”.

Last night Robyn Griffith-Jones, 51, sister of British survivor Joanna Griffith-Jones, said: “Those remarks were absolutely thoughtless.

“My sister and her husband have lost everything. If you go on a camping trip, you know you can go home afterwards.

“You can’t do that if you don’t have anything left. I have spoken to my sister and it is desperate out there.” Violinist Joanna, 46, was at home with her husband Franco Negroni when the earthquake hit on Monday.

They escaped their ruined house in the village of Onna by climbing out of a window.

Mr Berlusconi justified his remarks by claiming he did not want there to be an “atmosphere of pessimism, negativity, disease and death”.

He added: “I don’t think it’s out of place. I think children could use a smile, a bit of optimism and playfulness.”

His response was in contrast to that of pop star Madonna, who donated £500,000 to the survivors’ disaster fund. The singer’s grandparents came from the area of central Italy affected by the earthquake.

She said: “I am happy to lend a helping hand to the town that my ancestors are from. My heart goes out to the families that have lost loved ones.”

Funerals for the victims were due to start today with two private burials but mass services will be held tomorrow at L’Aquila stadium.

The Vatican said Pope Benedict XVI would wait until after Easter Sunday to visit the disaster area so that he did not hinder the relief operation.

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