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.

Flooding in Central and Eastern Europe

Malteser International is providing relief for victims of the floods in Central and Eastern Europe.

Situation
Heavy rains and storms which started on 22-23 July have led to severe flooding in parts of Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, Moldova and Slovakia. Areas of Ukraine, Romania, and Moldova are most seriously affected. About 40,000 people have been evacuated in these countries.

In Ukraine, the number of people killed has risen to 34. About 25,000 people have been evacuated. 9,000 houses and 24,000 hectares of farmland are still flooded. In Romania, the floods are reported to be the worst for 40 years. Five people are reported to have been killed. About 9,000 houses were damaged, and 26,000 hectares of land were flooded.

Action of Malteser International and the Order of Malta Relief Organizations in Central and Eastern Europe (OMRO)

Malteser International has provided a total of 20,000 Euro for first flood responses. 10,000 Euro of this amount will be used by the Romanian Relief Organization of the Order of Malta, the SAMR, for small scale distribution programs in some affected areas where branches of the SAMR are already active. The second part of the fund will be used by the Ukrainian Relief Organization of the Order, the MSD. They will possibly concentrate on small rehabilitation works in greater Lviv district.

The Hungarian relief organisation, the MMSz is also conducting flood responses in Cis-Carpathia and they have started a donation campaign in Hungary.

The Czech Relief Organization of the Order, the MP has offered 71 dryers which may get used on demand by Romania and Ukraine or any other OMRO. The use of the dryers may be an option when water levels have declined.

You can help with a tax-deductible donation to Malteser International Americas. Visit our Support Us section to learn more about how you can help.