Today, 4 February 2024, the Order of Malta’s Hungarian Relief Service is 35 years old. It is the main humanitarian organization in the country, providing social and health care to some 15,000 people every day with its 120 groups of nationwide volunteers. In addition to its traditional aid activities, the organization has been updated to meet current needs by opening telemedicine clinics and solar power plants, which provide heating to families living in poorer areas.

The Order of Malta’s Hungarian Relief Service was established in 1989, following the publication of the law allowing the establishment of civil organisations. In the same year, it was in the global spotlight for the reception of East German refugees, relief operations during the Romanian Revolution and for its humanitarian work during the Yugoslav War.

The Order of Malta’s Relief Service is one of the largest charitable organizations in the country. It assists nearly 6,000 people through its over sixty facilities for the homeless, 3,000 people in its care homes, 2,500 people in institutions for the disabled and 3,000 mostly disadvantaged children attend its 17 public educational institutions.

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the Order of Malta’s Hungarian Relief Service has provided aid and support to over 120,000 refugees.

Photo: Beregsurány, the reception centre for Ukrainian refugees, March 2022 /VL MMLSZ