Dr.Leo-Ferdinand Henckel von Donnersmarck, President of the German Association of the Order of Malta, announced today in Mainz the launch of Malteser International.
Malteser International will provide humanitarian emergency aid in all parts of the world: medical emergency relief measures as well as long-term rehabilitation measures and development programmes. “With Malteser International we bring together the existing forces of the Order and reinforce our network of 46 Order organisations all over the world, with the aim of enhancing the synergy of all partners in the worldwide service to people in need,” states Henckel von Donnersmarck. Already sixteen Associations of the Order of Malta have joined this new organisation (Austria, Belgium, Bohemia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Holland, Poland, Portugal, Swiss, US American, US Federal, US Western.)
Based in Cologne, Malteser International take the place of the former ECOM (Emergency Corps of the Order of Malta) which has long-standing experience in international relief activities, for example during the Kosovo Crisis 1999; after the earthquake in Bam, Iran; after the Tsunami in South and Southeast Asia. Globally, 1,000 employees of Malteser International carry out missions in 35 countries. 40 emergency and rehabilitation experts coordinate more than 150 worldwide projects. About 100 international experts are currently working in the emergency and crisis regions in the different countries in close cooperation with more than 900 local employees.
“As well as its medical expertise, an important factor for the efficiency of Malteser International is the global network of the Order in five continents, with 93 diplomatic representations spread across the globe,” Henckel von Donnersmarck explains. “The diplomatic missions of the Order of Malta can facilitate access to many crisis regions and to their official authorities. This is an indispensable requirement for competent global help in the 21st century.”
As the ethic Henckel von Donnersmarck emphasised that Christian values and the humanitarian principles of impartiality and independence are the foundation of Malteser International’s work. “Malteser International’s work in humanitarian support remains what it has been for 900 years: aid for people in need in all parts of the world without distinction of religion, race or political persuasion.”
Malteser International’s structure:
President: Nicolas de Cock de Rameyen (Belgium Association of the Order).
Vice-Presidents: Richard von Steeb, Austrian Grand Priory; Thierry de Beaumont-Beynac, French Association; Theodor Wallau, German Association.
Financial Supervisor: Charles-Louis de Laguiche, Swiss Association.
Secretary General: Ingo Radtke, former Director of the Malteser Foreign Aid Division.
Malteser International will report to the Order of Malta International Hospitaller Committee chaired by the Grand Hospitaller of the Order.
Various projects of Malteser International are financially supported by the Associations of the Order of Malta, the German Federal Foreign Office and the German Federal Department of Economic Cooperation and Development. On the international level, Malteser International can count on a long partnership and support of the European Commission and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
for further information
