Malteser International is the worldwide relief organisation of the Sovereign Order of Malta for humanitarian aid. The organisation has more than 50 years of experience in
humanitarian relief and covers around 200 projects in about 20 countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas. Currently, 22 national associations and priories of the Order of Malta are members of Malteser International.

Evolved from Malteser Germany, thus set up in accordance with German Law, and internationalised in 2005, the organisation has two operational branches: “Malteser International” (www.malteser-international.org) in Europe (Cologne/Germany) and “Order of Malta Worldwide Relief - Malteser International Americas” (www.maltarelief.org) in the USA (Washington DC).

It provides aid in all parts of the world without distinction of religion, race or political persuasion. Christian values and the humanitarian principles of impartiality and independence are the foundation of its work.

Its mission is not only to provide emergency relief, but also to implement rehabilitation measures and to facilitate the link between emergency relief and sustainable development. Malteser International establishes and promotes primary health care services and seeks to reduce vulnerability and poverty.

The organisation is committed to ensure high quality standards and has pledged to observe international agreements and standards like “The Sphere Project” and “The Code of Conduct”. Accountability and transparency are priorities of its agenda.

Malteser International’s mission is to:

· provide relief to major emergencies in the world and implement reconstruction and rehabilitation measures with a community focus;

· establish and promote primary health care services and contribute to better health by providing nutrition related programmes;

· contribute to better health and dignified living conditions by providing access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH);

· implement livelihood measures and social programmes to ensure the access of people to income security and reduce their vulnerability and poverty;

· establish and promote disaster preparedness activities, especially on a community level.

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Malteser International emergency relief - here after typhoons in Vietnam.

Malteser International project for people with disability in Indonesia.