PAKISTAN & INDIA :
Earthquake in Pakistan and India: Malteser's International's relief experts on the spot
OCTOBER 18, 2005

Malteser International staff members Marie-Theres Benner and Jon Freeman arrived in Islamabad early on Friday morning. The two relief experts are going to initiate concrete relief measures. “Five hours away by car in the north of Islamabad there are still valleys which are completely cut off from the rest of the world. In Palas Valley, for example, in the Kohitan district, where about 60,000 people live, there is an urgent need for food, blankets, tents and clothing,” states Benner. Hunger, frostbites and sometimes fatal infections are the second disaster after the earthquake catastrophe for the survivors in Pakistan and India. Marie-Theres Benner, Malteser International relief expert, predicts further problems: “Within the next few weeks, up to 90,000 babies will be born in the earthquake affected region. Most of the pregnant women are already weakened by a lack of food and water.” Complications during delivery have to be expected in about 20 percent of the cases; therefore there is an urgent need for medical assistance and supplies. Malteser International is therefore working in close cooperation with the Sister Doctors Forum India (SDFI) and the Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI). “There is a lack of everything in the health care sector: surgical instruments, vaccines, transfusions”, states Benner. In cooperation with our Turkish partner organisation “International Blue Crescent (IBC)”, which has a team of five staff members in the largely destroyed capital of the province Muzaffarabad, Malteser International is sending an aid convoy into the devastated valley. Malteser International has previously cooperated successfully with this Turkish partner organisation during the earthquake in Turkey and during the Iraq crisis. Malteser International and IBC are setting up a logistical centre in Muzaffarabad, from which relief items like tents, blankets, hygiene-kits, clothing, food and water will be distributed. In response to the increasing scale of the crisis, Malteser International has increased its financial assistance to one million Euro. “In order to alleviate the suffering of the affected people we need so much more”, says Benner. Malteser International’s objectives also include long-term programmes: rehabilitation of health care centres, schools and houses as well as the establishment of psychosocial care centres.

CENTRAL AMERICA :
Hurrican Stan: Malteser International is supporting local relief measures
OCTOBER 12, 2005

Malteser International has committed Euro 50,000 as a first pledge to support the relief activities of the Associations of the Order of Malta in Central America for the victims of floods and landslides. “Despite the terrible images we have in mind from the Kashmir region we also have to care for the victims of the awful landslides and floods in Central America“, stated Ingo Radtke, Secretary General of Malteser International. The heavy rainfalls triggered by Hurricane Stan caused an estimated 2,000 deaths and a much higher number of injured and people who lost their houses. “Our support is a response to the urgent request of different Associations of the Order of Malta in Central America for relief aid, “ says Radtke. „The situation in Chiapas is very serious, a lot of houses have been washed away“, reports Julieta Conroy from the Order’s Association in Mexico. A cry for help is also coming from the president of the Order’s Association in El Salvador, Pierre Houdelot: „The number of cases in children with acute respiratory infections is increasing in all of our ten health centres. We are running out of medical drugs, and the supply of new medication has become very difficult due to the desolation caused by the Hurricane.” “In these regions it is always the poorest part of the population who suffers enormously from the consequences of natural disasters,” says Radtke, recalling the experience of Malteser International in Central America, where the organization - among other projects - provided long-term assistance after Hurricane Mitch in 1998.

KATRINA:
UPDATE: Malteser International and US Associations of the Order establish an office in Louisiana
SEPTEMBER 20, 2005

The three US associations of the Order of Malta have established an office in Baton Rouge to coordinate further relief measurements, lead by project manager Osvaldo Marcenaro. Due to the fact that about two thirds of people affected by Hurricane Katrina are African American and out of them about 40 percent are illiterate, the support of the US Malteser Associations will not only include reconstruction measures, but also education. “An important factor is that people are not able to fill out the forms to be eligible to receive governmental support,” says Ingo Radtke, Secretary General of Malteser International. The US Associations will support victims of the hurricane that don’t have any education and offer them free job training. The displaced persons that have lost everything and didn’t have insurance to recover their belongings will receive basic life utensils.

Malteser International will stay for at least six months
SEPTEMBER 2, 2005

“All the planning concerning the accommodation of the evacuated people of New Orleans and the reconstruction phase is now thoughtfully initiated and appropriate to the needs”, states Sid Johann Peruvemba, Vice-Secretary General of Malteser International, who returned from the United States on Sunday. He adds that the needs for food and medical supplies are now covered to the greatest possible extent. The United States Malteser Associations organised several truckloads with hygienic and food items during the acute emergency phase for the affected areas. There has also already been a delivery of building and construction supplies for the erection of temporary shelters. “It is still difficult to assess the whereabouts and the needs of the evacuated population and to register them. We support the Catholic network of the diocese of New Orleans in collecting data. In the surrounding communities of Baton Rouge we gather the personal data of evacuated persons, a lot of them are mothers, children and disabled people“, says Peruvemba. This has to be considered indispensable for further planning – not only regarding temporary shelter solutions, but also with regard to the establishment of middle-term accommodation units with a social infrastructure like schools, kindergartens etc. Malteser International, working with the three US associations of the Order, will support the construction and maintenance of those kinds of units for at least the next six months.

Relief Activity Report No. 1
SEPTEMBER 2, 2005

Malteser International expresses its solidarity with the victims of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alambama. In a letter from 31 August 2005, Antonio R. Sanchez-Corea, Chancellor of the Western Association, reports on the situation in the south of the United States.

Katrina Relief Report PDF

TSUNAMI:
UPDATE: The Order of Malta's Activities in Tsunami Relief
february 16 , 2005

Overall Situation

Immediately after the severe seaquake, Malteser International sent assessment teams into the crisis regions and started to provide emergency relief. In addition to the emergency relief programmes which are being run in cooperation with local partner organisations in India, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, we are at present planning and preparing comprehensive rehabilitation programmes for these countries. Also in Myanmar we shall assess the possibilities and the requirements for relief measures and projects as soon as the government has approved access to enter the affected regions.

As the first phase of emergency relief gradually comes to an end, numerous relief services specialised in disaster relief will leave the crisis regions. Our teams stay on the spot and continue to identify and plan rehabilitation projects; they establish contact with the local authorities and prepare cooperation with local partners and other relief services. Therefore it will still take some weeks until medium-term and long-term rehabilitation programmes have been put in concrete terms and realisation can be started.

According to present planning, the rehabilitation phase in the countries hit by the seaquake will take at least three to five years. For rehabilitation measures in the first year, we shall realize rehabilitation programmes with a total project volume of up to six million Euros. For the further financing of all medium-term and long-term rehabilitation measures and in order to ensure a lasting relief for the crisis region, we plan to set up a so-called “Rehabilitation Fund” in which all donations in favour of our rehabilitation programmes in South-East Asia will pour in on the basis of target group specific “programme funds”, e. g. “Relief for Fishermen”, “Relief for Children, Widows and Orphans” etc.

Activities

1. South India
In cooperation with its partner organisations, we up to now have provided more than 40,000 victims with medicines, foodstuffs, blankets, and cooking items. Besides a second phase of distribution, the planning of coherent, substantive rehabilitation projects is on the way. Up to now, the relief measures realized or in preparation in South India amount to about 600,000 Euro; further comprehensive rehabilitation measures are planned with a total volume of about 800,000 Euro. At present, about 400 local helpers are working in India within the framework of Malteser International and its partners.

a) Kerala – Kollam District:
Together with our partner organization MSSS (Malankara Social Service Society) from Trivandrum, the focus of our work lies on the welfare of refugees in five camps with around 5,000 refugees. In addition to the provision of relief goods organized by local authorities, we provide food blankets, clothing and medical aid as well as counseling efforts for traumatized people. Special care is given to around 300 families who have lost their immediate relatives (children/ parents). Furthermore, in cooperation with MSSS we develop income generating measures for 200 families who have lost their source of income and prepares the distribution of cattle, nets and further working material. In cooperation with our partner organization SAHYI, we organize the construction of four temporary community centers offering a place for meetings, common meals and the care for children. We shall offer a special care programmed for about 500 children. On a short-term basis, we will also support repairs of 120 less damaged houses. With a sewing program, we help women to produce clothing for about 500 children and at the same time to obtain their own income. In addition, Malteser International and SAHYI also prepare the short-term construction of temporary shelters for 500 families.

b) Tamil Nadu – Kanya Kumari District:
Together with our partner organization HOM (Health for One Million, Diocese of Marthandam) we ensure the integral and complete assistance for 5,000 victims and provide food, clothing, cooking material, water and medical aid. At present, 40 HOM social workers are trained by an Indian specialist organization for the psychosocial care and trauma counseling for about 1,000 families. In cooperation with HOM, we also prepare the reconstruction of about 350 houses in three villages as well as further rehabilitation measures.

c) Tamil Nadu – Nagapattinam District:
In cooperation with CHAI (Catholic Health Association of India), we provide medical emergency relief for flood victims totaling about 20,000 patients in over 30 villages. Stationed at base camps, mobile medical teams take on basic medical provision in remote areas, care for the injured and carry out vaccinations. Together with CHAI we also prepare a decentralized integral medical care for the flood victims in 20 villages until the end of 2005. CHAI additionally is sponsored for the training of further 150 health and social workers in psycho-social counseling for traumatized flood victims. d) Tamil Nadu – all regions: It is planned to support a Jesuit project in collaboration with Caritas and Misereor. The principle objective is to strengthen social fringe groups and especially the “untouchables”, who are traditionally excluded from Indian public support services.

e) Tamil Nadu – Pondicherry Region:
On the basis of an assessment run by Mr. Jacques Coffrant (OHFOM France), we prepare relief programs of the French Association for four villages in cooperation with local Indian partner organizations:

• Repair of fisher boats and provision of working material for fishermen
• Water and Sanitation
• Scholarships for orphans.

2. South Thailand
Four expatriates, three Thai colleagues and about 100 Thai helpers are actually focusing their relief actions on the most vulnerable groups in South Thailand, i. e. fishermen and migrants from Myanmar. Cleaning up operations continue in the whole area, temporary shelters for the homeless are still being constructed and life for many returns to a sort of normalcy. Besides some ARI (acute respiratory infections) problems at the Children's Centre in Bam Muang, the health situation is still under control. The risk of water borne diseases is still there due to the breakdown of the water system.

a) Ko Koh Khao Island:
We have provided water and sanitation in all three villages affected in the Island Ko Kho Khao. The construction of houses (the villagers opted for a type of house which is built on concrete stilts) will be realized by the Navy who has also built the temporary shelters on the . We will support this initiative with the installation of a water system which will provide potable water for more than 100 families on the island.

b) Ban Bansak
The camp in Ban Bansak which was provided with relief goods up to now no longer exists since all 500 inhabitants could been re-housed in temporary accommodation. In the Village Ban Bansak which will be partly rehabilitated by “Willi Kothny”, our helpers continue to pump out the wells and also remove the sand which has accumulated there. Furthermore, Malteser International will provide two generators and two 2,000 liter water containers for temporary use and support the construction of 30 houses.

c) Ban Muang
Malteser International has supported the Children’s Center in Ban Muang which cares for about 200 children with several relief goods like a washing machine, fridge, cupboards, baby products etc. The whole centre has had the flooring raised by 25 cm to keep the children from lying directly on the ground and thus reduce the risks related to ARI infections. In addition, it is planned to build two complete toilet units.

d) Pak Weep
The school building in Pak Weep was used as a temporary accommodation for the flood victims. The toilets were so overused that they collapsed. Therefore, we will repair two units and will add a third and also provide a health conscious hand washing area for the 124 pupils where they can also lean their teeth after the meals.

e) All regions:
Provision of motors, nets and baskets for fishermen An American NGO is planning to provide 800 boats to fishermen who lost their boats due to the Tsunami. Malteser International will propose to provide the motors for the boats as well as nets and baskets for the 800 fishermen to get a new basis for earning their own income.

3. Sri Lanka
In January, an assessment was run in the south and north of the country by a team consisting of medical and technical experts. In cooperation with two experienced international development organizations and local partners, the situation in the crisis was intensely examined. After first emergency measures like the financial support of the Archbishop of Colombo for refugee camps, we now plan medium-term and long-term rehabilitation measures. Furthermore, a comprehensive program for income generating measures is being developed. In total, we plan to realize relief measures in Sri Lanka in 2005 with a total volume of one million Euros.

a) Province of Galle
A German-French team consisting of three nurses will provide medical care for 600 people in two refugee camps in Koskoda for at least the next 12 months. In cooperation with the local authorities Malteser International has provided five tractors with water tanks for the transport of potable water as well as four stationary water tanks in the districts of Koskoda and Ahungalla and thus ensures clear drinking water for about 90.000 people. In the district of Habaraduwa, we will support the construction of houses for about 100 families in four villages in cooperation with the local NGO “Help for the Children”. In addition, the families will be offered psycho-social counseling. In the middle of February, we will send a trauma counseling expert to organize the training of local volunteers.

b) Mullaitivu District
In the Mullaitivu District in the northeast of Sri Lanka, we will provide 650 tents for a refugee camp and ensure water supply in cooperation with the „Tamil Rehabilitation Organization“(TRO). Furthermore, we will build temporary shelters for 60 orphans and support the rehabilitation of the orphanage of the Holy Family Convent.

c) South and East Sri Lanka
In cooperation with Caritas, GTZ and a local partner organization, Malteser International plans the rehabilitation of destroyed villages in the east and in the south of the country.

4. Indonesia
In Indonesia, we will above all support the rehabilitation of fishing villages. Especially the villages at the north-eastern coast up to now were only scarcely reached by international relief. In the refugee camps in the region of Lhokseumave on the eastern coast, Malteser International has already distributed 100 “family kits” comprising among others kerosene cookers, water cans, cooking utensils and hygiene articles. In this region, Malteser International also prepares the construction and rehabilitation of latrines and of a water and sanitation system in order to ensure the water supply for all families. At present, the Malteser International team here examines when and where to start the rehabilitation program. The fishermen and their families urgently need boats, nets and equipment in order to earn their own income again. Wells have to be cleaned, houses, schools, health and community centers have to be reconstructed as soon as possible. For the region of Lhokseumave, we plan relief measures with a total volume of about 900,000 Euro at present.

In Banda Aceh, the coordination of relief measures in the meantime has been improved. Programs and projects are coordinated among the different relief services. The acute emergency phase has come to an end. Now, the planning of rehabilitation programs in cooperation with local partners has started. Malteser International will support the rehabilitation of health structures in Banda Aceh, in the refugee camps and temporary settlements and in the destroyed villages. The programs will include rehabilitation or new construction of health centers, support of basic health care services as well as education and prevention. With the latter we especially aim at preventing the spread of epidemics, of malaria or dengue fever by the means of the provision of clean water, the construction of latrines or the distribution of materials.

5.Myanmar
For several years already, Malteser Germany has been running projects in Myanmar in Northern Rakhine State, in Wa Region and in Yangon Division in the fields of health, water and sanitation. As the political situation in Myanmar is extremely difficult and we are only registered through Malteser Germany, our helping activities must be run under the name of Malteser.

Immediately after the Tsunami disaster, Malteser Germany had forwarded an offer for assistance to the government of Myanmar which was answered positively on 20 January 2005. As soon as the government has approved the access into the affected areas, our team on the spot will examine the possibilities and requirements for relief programs and rehabilitation projects. At present, our team is in contact with the local health authorities. The Government has reported need for medicine and medical appliances in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases as well as for relief goods to improve the situation of the families affected by the disaster. Our team on the spot is in a position to start the necessary relief measures immediately. Malteser International has put about 500,000 Euro at the disposal of relief measures for the flood victims in.

BURMA:
Helping 250,000 in need in
Myanmar (Burma)
NOVEMBER 25, 2004

Over the last three years, Malteser International has assisted over a quarter of a million people under extremely difficult working conditions in Myanmar. The Order of Malta's relief arm has provided basic health care services, helped people get access to clean drinking water, and put in place systems to control communicable diseases like malaria and tuberculosis in the Thongwa township in the Burmese capital Yangon. In part as a result of these successful efforts, Malteser International was one of the few humanitarian aid bodies allowed into Myanmar by the government in the wake of the tsunami, and is currently performing a needs assessment and providing basic aid there now.

IRAN:
Still Helping after the Bam Earthquake
November 25, 2004

Just over a year after the Iranian city of Bam was devastated
by a severe earthquake, Malteser International continues to
help those in need, but building capacity among local organizations to provide long term support once international organizations leave. Malteser International is partnering with local NGO's in various projects, including care for women and children traumatized by the quake, and is training Iranian staff members in skills like project management and aid delivery.