Eight Malteser International experts will provide emergency aid

The Order of Malta’s International Relief Corps took off from Düsseldorf at 18.00 hours today. Besides a doctor and a logistics expert from the Ordre de Malte France, the team includes two doctors originating from Haiti and another two doctors and a public health expert from the Order’s German Ambulance Corps. The mission is led by Malteser International’s emergency relief coordinator Georg Nothelle.

To assist the survivors of the massive quake that has devastated the poorest country in the western hemisphere, the Order of Malta’s International Relief Corps is appealing for ‘medicines, food and water, needed not only immediately but also in the future to help those whose homes have been destroyed and the injured.’

With the Port-au-Prince airport declared non-operational, the emergency team’s plane will be forced to land in Santo Domingo. From there the team will transfer to the Haitian capital. Logistic assistance to the mission is currently being provided by the Order of Malta’s ambassador to Haiti, Hans Rothe, who operates from Santo Domingo. The team will provide emergency aid and medical assistance, establish needs in the crisis area and transmit information.

It seems, from the first fragmentary news received, that the ‘Sacré Coeur’ hospital the Order of Malta supports in Milot – 130 kilometres north of the capital Port-au-Prince – has suffered little damage and is working full out to assist survivors.

Three emergency doctors from the Order’s three United States associations, a safe-water system technician from the French Association and other medical personnel from Malteser International’s Fast Response Unit are on stand-by, ready to go to the assistance of their colleagues already on site. The Order of Malta’s International Relief corps will only send other personnel when it has an idea of the population’s exact needs.

Malteser International is grateful for the tens of thousands of dollars already donated by the Order’s associations in northern and central America and in Europe and is asking everyone to support the population devastated by this disaster. Medicines, food and water are urgently needed now and in the coming months to help those rendered homeless and/or injured.

Malteser International thanks all those who donate money to help the Haitian population:

Donation Account 2020122
Pax-Bank Koln, von-Werth-Str. 25-27, D-50670 Cologne, Germany
Sort Code 370 60 193
IBAN DE93 3706 0193 0002 0201 22
BIC GENODED1PAX
Reference : ‘Earthquake Relief Haiti’

Online donations:

http://www.malteser-spenden.de/spenden.html?&v=6787&l=2