2022 was a particularly intense and challenging year for Ordre de Malte France, as clearly emerges from its “Activity Report 2022”, fresh off the press. (www.ordredemaltefrance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ordrede-malte-ra-2022-web.pdf).
In addition to its usual social and healthcare activities, Ordre de Malte France has faced several emergencies, the most challenging being Ukraine. A war that, in addition to massive devastations, has had an economic impact on the entire European continent. An inflationary spiral has further worsened the living conditions of those already living precariously.
In this particular context, the figures reached by various fundraising campaigns grew by 5.7 million euro in 2022, reaching 25.6 million euro, an increase of 29% compared to 2021. Thanks to the generosity of its donors, benefactors and partners, Ordre de Malte France has been able to provide answers to many difficult situations.
As for the Ukrainian conflict, in the days following the outbreak of war Ordre de Malte France mobilized to help Ukrainian refugees in neighbouring countries and in France. It sent essential goods and money to the Order of Malta’s associations in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Lithuania and Ukraine itself to provide immediate assistance to refugees. A wide range of measures have been put in place, such as reception at borders, distribution of food, water and medicines, emergency housing, food aid, psychological support and management of soup kitchens.
Apart from the Ukrainian emergency, Ordre de Malte France recorded significant developments in 2022, both in terms of projects carried out and in the different areas in which it operates nationally and internationally – solidarity, first aid, health and medical care, mother and child health, assistance to leprosy patients and ophthalmology. The reorganisation of its headquarters, delegations and network of volunteers has also been fundamental.
“Our international action, with our 15 hospitals or health centres and 138 clinics, has been maintained in sometimes complicated security contexts and deteriorating economic environments (…),” comments Cédric Chalret du Rieu, President of Ordre de Malte France. “Our 13 health and social facilities in France have suffered from the post-Covid upheavals and diminished purchasing power of our employees. In the four corners of continental France and in overseas territories, our volunteers, now flanked by professional regional coordinators, have worked tirelessly to ramp up solidarity actions, care provided and people assisted”. These latter amounted to a total of 570,000 in 2022, including 310,000 contacts with rough sleepers, transport to health and social facilities and services, as well as 260,000 consultations in hospitals and directly managed facilities.
Founded in 1927, Ordre de Malte France operates in 26 countries with a budget of some 90 million euros, over 2,000 employees in France and abroad and 12,700 volunteers.
