Annual report 2005 Malteser International - Ordine di Malta

Central and Eastern Europe
Within the framework of a programme actually extending beyond humanitarian aid, Malteser
International also supports the development of partner organisations and social services in Central
and Eastern Europe. This programme comprises both international and national aspects:
● Support for the 13 Malteser aid organisations currently in Central and Eastern Europe: over
the past year, we have focused particularly on advising and creating a network for our partner
organisations.
● Promotion of the German Malteser relief agency‘s work abroad, which is mainly volunteer-based
and since the foundation of Malteser International acts under the name ‘Malteser Auslandsdienst’
(Malteser Foreign Service): the central points here are consolidating existing partnerships and
training our representatives abroad.
Flood aid in Romania and its
neighbouring countries
Barely noticed by the Western media, a
dreadful flood disaster hit Romania and a
few of its neighbouring countries between
April and September. It resulted in the
deaths of 31 people, destroyed thousands
of houses, paralysed the infrastructure
in broad areas of the country and caused
material damage totalling over EUR 1.2
billion.
The Malteser relief agencies in
Romania, Serbia and Hungary introduced
extensive emergency aid and
reconstruction measures. Malteser
International supported its partner relief
agencies with financial aid totalling
EUR 200,000. In this way, food, blankets
and hygiene articles were distributed to
the flood victims. Since summer 2005,
the Romanian Malteser aid agency
SAMR (Serviciul de Ajutor Maltez în
România) has also carried out measures
to secure livelihoods and rebuild homes,
distributing agricultural equipment, seeds
and livestock to the affected population.
Numerous German Malteser groups also
supported their partner with flood aid.
When the Danube burst its banks again
in April 2006 and flooded further regions
in the south of Romania, SAMR was on
the spot immediately and able to provide
rapid and professional help on the basis of
its experiences of the previous year: the
Romanian Malteser partner organisation
provided emergency aid for the worst-hit
villages in the eastern Romanian district
of Tulcea and distributed 300 packages
with food, blankets and hygiene articles.
With the financial support of the German
Foreign Office and Malteser International,
it erected temporary tent accommodation
for evacuated residents. SAMR is also
planning to take part in the reconstruction
of the destroyed villages.
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