After 5 months of war, presently 15.7 million Ukrainians are in need of humanitarian aid. According to latest figures, 6.3 million people are internally displaced, and another 6 million people have crossed international borders since the outbreak of the war on February 24th. The UN says that as of 21 June, there have been over 3 million “cross-border movements” back into Ukraine, but numbers could be higher.
The main needs remain shelter, provisions, medical care, food, psycho-social support.
The Order of Malta, under the coordination of its worldwide relief agency – Malteser International – has been scaling up its relief operations offering emergency support from the very beginning of the war to midterm planning to meet the demands of the refugees and displaced.
Malteser Ukraine delivers continuous support in different sectors mainly health, and food and nutrition security across the country. Warm food and water are distributed regularly at the main railway station and bus station in Lviv. Psychological assistance is offered to the displaced with around 30 highly qualified psychologists and psychotherapists on board. A summer camp for 200 children affected by war – IDP and from war zones – has also been organised.
Since the very first days of the war, the Polish Association of the Order of Malta has been actively involved in delivering first aid training and in providing medical equipment to hospitals in Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk. With the support of the Order of Malta in Belgium, the Polish association has donated 20 ambulances filled with medical equipment as well as food. A further 5 ambulances and 2 body coolers were handed over.
The Hungarian charity service of the Order of Malta has assisted some 53,000 refugees since the beginning of the war and manages extensive logistics network with hotspots, warehouses and donation collection points across the country.
The organisation has also provided over 9.000 refugees with shelter within its own institutions or in accommodations offered by partner organisations and donors. The Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta assist Ukrainian refugees at hotspots in Beregsurány, Budapest, Debrecen, Miskolc and Győr.
The Order of Malta Romania is also committed to supporting refugees crossing the Ukrainian-Romanian border at Sighetu Marmației, Satu Mare, Siret (Suceava County) where volunteers offer psycho-social support, shelters, first aid service, distribution of hygiene items, food and water.
Humanitarian packages and relief support is also offered by the Order of Malta Lithuania, and volunteers from the Slovakia association are also committed in providing aid, support and transportation to the refugees.
The Order of Malta Germany has deployed 50,000 volunteers in 500 locations and has transported nearly 4.000 tons of aid material to Ukraine and neighbouring countries. Volunteers have also organised evacuation of seriously ill wounded people and the transport of disabled children.
Many other national associations, under the supervision of the worldwide relief agency of the Order of Malta, Malteser International, are supporting the relief efforts with volunteers travelling from Italy, France, England, Germany and USA and other countries.
Many of the relief operations are implemented with the support of the diplomatic network of the Order of Malta in the region.
