‘We will stay for as long as our assistance is needed in the rehabilitation and reconstruction phases following Hurricane Katrina’s deadly effects,’ says Ingo Radtke, Secretary General of Malteser International, the Order of Malta worldwide relief service.

His team of experts were on the ground in America’s southern states yesterday, already linking in with the three Order of Malta Associations in the United States and with humanitarian assistance experts of the Catholic Church in the diocese of New Orleans, developing programmes for assisting the most vulnerable and socially disadvantaged to regain a basis of existence.

‘More than 25 percent of the population in the areas affected by Katrina, – over 200,000 people – were already living below the poverty line before the disaster. They have lost all their belongings,’ Radtke said. ‘In Houston, Texas, 25,000 people are currently accommodated in the Astrodome. An emergency reception camp for several thousand has been erected, with another in preparation. It is assumed that the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase will last several months,’ he added. ‘Although the aid programmes are now starting up, and there is a perceptible solidarity, some people risk not receiving any social service at all. We particularly want to focus on these cases.’

Please help the Hurricane Katrina Relief fund created to support the relief and rehabilitation programmes of the United States Associations of the Order of Malta. Donation can be made through the Malteser International bank account:

Bank für Sozialwirtschaft
Sort Code 370 205 00
Account N° 120 120 120
IBAN DE 49 3702 0500 0001 0258 01
BIC BFSWDE33XXX
Reference Hurricane Katrina Relief