Portraits of Our Help: Holiday Edition

Throughout 2007, Malteser International has published remarkable stories of how we help people and communities in the countries where we work to rebuild and revitalize. We've met incredible people doing great work and making great strides and doing great services to help others. We've packaged these stories together for the holiday version of our On the SPOT newsletter.

These new Portraits of Our Help offer heartwarming and inspirational stories from people working in India, Dr Congo, Myanmar, Pakistan, India... everywhere where we help provide relief efforts and rebuilding projects. Download our On The Spot Christmas Edition to read our stories.

New Photos from Pakistan Earthquake

Malteser International has new photos of the effects from the deadly earthquake that struck last week in Pakistan, where a devastating earthquake hit on Wednesday, October 29. Malteser International is preparing for emergency relief efforts after a quake with a 6.4 magnitude in the Baluchistan province, which borders Afghanistan, just before dawn. Hundreds were killed in the quake.

Malteser International will send medical personnel and supplies and coordinate hygiene awareness activities to more than 500 families as part of our relief effort. We will also provide temporary shelter, blankets, water cans and hygiene articles for people in Pakistan. 

You can help our relief efforts with a tax-deductible donationto the Order of Malta Worldwide Relief - Malteser International Americas. Your support will help our direct efforts in helping people in Pakistan -- and everywhere we work! 

Click on a photo to enlarge

   
   

Devastating Earthquake in Pakistan: Malteser International Prepares Emergency Aid

In the wake of the heavy earthquake in Pakistan, Malteser International is supporting the Joint Assessment conducted by the “Pakistan Humanitarian Forum.” The relief efforts include sending a medical doctor to the affected region in Beluchistan where the earthquake caused more than 160 deaths. In the district of Ziarat alone, more than 50,000 people are affected. The Federal Foreign Office of Germany has announced its financial support for the relief activities as well.

To provide emergency relief in the disaster area, Malteser plans to support at least 500 affected families with non-food items like tarpaulins for temporary shelter, drinking water containers and purification tablets. We are also promoting hygiene awareness in the area and distributing family hygiene kits including soap, buckets, bowls, and towels.

Having operated in Pakistan within the districts of Kohistan, Muzaffarabad and Bagh since a severe earthquake struck the region in 2005, Malteser International is uniquely situated to provide relief during this crisis. Malteser's efforts have focused on providing winter-proven temporary shelter, rehabilitating water supply structures, treating patients in remote areas with mobile health teams, and rebuilding Basic Health Units. After the severe floods in Beluchistan in 2007, Malteser International provided disaster relief to 1,000 affected families.

Malteser International Americas asks for your help by making a donation to support our relief efforts in Pakistan and worldwide. Make a commitment by visiting www.maltarelief.org/pakistan to make a secure, tax-deductible online donation today.

New floods in India: Malteser International extends emergency relief for flood victims

"All streets here are flooded; in panic, the people escape onto dams", Annette Wächter-Schneider, Senior Desk Officer for India at Malteser International, currently travelling in the disaster region, reports.

Uttar Pradesh/Cologne. The federal state Uttar Pradesh in northern India is flooded: After further heavy monsoon rains, more than 500,000 m³ of water have been discharged from the overfull dams in neighbouring Nepal.

“All streets here are flooded; in panic, the people escape onto dams”, Annette Wächter-Schneider, Senior Desk Officer for India at Malteser International, currently travelling in the disaster region, reports. Already in 2007, devastating floods had afflicted Uttar Pradesh. “Four weeks ago, we handed out boats to the population - only with these, the people can find refuge on the dams”, Wächter-Schneider says. “As daily labourers, they live from hand to mouth and have no stockpiles. They are now urgently in need of food and further assistance”, the expert underlines.

In the neighbouring federal state Bihar, Malteser International has already been assisting the flood victims on the border with Nepal during the past weeks. In the mid of August, a dam of the river Kosi in Nepal broke and lead to severe floods, amongst others in India. Millions of the poorest people in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and the neighbouring regions are affected by the floods. One of the causes is the heaviest monsoon rain since years. 

Together with the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, Malteser International has already provided around 165,000 Euro for the emergency relief.

You can help with a donation to Malteser International Americas. 

View current photos on our online database at: http://php.malteser.de/cpg133/thumbnails.php?album=245

Help Us Provide Aid for India's Flood Victims

Intense flooding in India near the Nepal border has created an urgent need for resources. 10,000 to 15,000 families in the district of Basantpur alone are holding out on the remaining dams since nearly three weeks. The expert describes the situation of the survivors as “atrocious”, the people affected by the floods are frustrated: “No help has reached these people up to now, they are living in bare misery under branches of trees and plastic bags. Many of them grieve for family members.” Furthermore, the people in the camp are threatened by the outbreak of diseases. "The water supply is absolutely insufficient. The people are suffering from diarrhea.”

Malteser International will bring water disinfection items, water cans as well as cookware, plastic sheets and tools for the building of emergency shelter to the needy as soon as possible.

For its emergency relief in Bihar, Malteser International urgently calls for donations! You can make a tax-deductible donation to the Order of Malta Worldwide Relief--Malteser International America to support our efforts.