Annual report 2005 Malteser International - Ordine di Malta

America
In 2005, the federal states of Louisiana and Mississippi were the setting for the worst natural disaster to
ever hit the USA. Countries in Central America were also affected by serious natural disasters, which
mainly hit those who were most vulnerable, due to low income and poor living conditions. Hurricane
Katrina and Hurricane Stan inflicted unimaginable damage in August and October, causing the
deaths of over 3,000 people. Together with the national associations of the Order of Malta, Malteser
International is supporting reconstruction after the disaster, focussing on those who are incapable
themselves of making a new start.
When the storm was over
Aid for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in the United States
Volunteers clear away unusable
furniture and flooring from houses in
need of renovation.
United States of America
International staff: 1
Aid for over 400 families in New
Orleans
On 29 August 2006, Hurricane
Katrina hit land in the state of Louisiana
approximately 30 kilometres east of New
Orleans. The levee system protecting
residents against the water of Lake
Pontchatrain and the Mississippi river
collapsed in several places. Over 100,000
households were submerged in more than
a metre of water. More than a million
people were forced to leave their homes.
Around 1,200 people died in the storm.
It took over three months before the city
was finally free of water again.
The greatest challenge now is the
rebuilding of homes. “Many of the
evacuees have only one goal, despite all
the obstacles in their path,” says Joan
Diaz, born and brought up in New Orleans.
“They want to return to their houses, to
a familiar environment – and as soon as
possible.” Joan is the head of ‘Helping
Hands’, an initiative started by the
Archdiocese of New Orleans to provide
reconstruction aid. Supported by the
three American associations of the Order
of Malta and by Malteser International,
teams of between ten and 15 volunteers
The renovation of the houses in New Orleans
sometimes is quite exhausting for the volunteers.
have been working in the poorest quarters
of the city since November 2005 and are
helping residents clear and clean their
houses and prepare them for renovation.
By March 2006, over 150 houses had
been cleaned and protected against
mould, thanks to the help of more than
1,200 volunteers.
In the second phase of the ‘house
renovation programme’ Malteser International
is collaborating with another
highly competent partner organisation:
‘Rebuilding Together’ has been engaged
in the renovation of houses for particularly
needy citizens in various cities in the
United States for over 18 years. “In order
to be able to offer renovation support to
even a fraction of the people who ask us
for help, we are reliant on partners such as
the American associations of the Order of
Malta and Malteser International,” says
Bryon Cornelison, head of the ‘Rebuilding
Together’ programme in New Orleans.
Together with Malteser International
project coordinator Osvaldo Marcenaro,
Bryon is working on 32 complete
renovations. Volunteers with technical
training are working together with
volunteers from the Order’s associations
on two to three houses each month until
they are ready for occupancy again.
A M E R I C A
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