(Rivista
Internazionale - December 1999: HEALTH- 1/1)
Health
The structures of the Order’s national and international bodies were mobilised to tackle with humanitarian interventions the drama which has struck the Balkan populations.
Kosovo Crisis
The head of the Order’s welfare activities, the Grand Hospitaller, Baron Albrecht von Boeselager, co-ordinated from the start of the conflict all the rescue operations. He set up an operational centre, under the leadership of ECOM (International Emergency Corps Order of Malta) in its Cologne headquarters, with the cooperation of all its members: the French Hospitaller Works (OHFOM), The German Ambulance Corps (MHD), the Austrian Hospitaller Service (MHDA), the Associations of Belgium, Ireland, England, Spain and Switzerland, as well as the Order’s embassies in the crisis zones - in Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia and the Grand Priory Rescue Delegations and Groups (CISOM) in Italy. For the distribution of aid, logistic centres were opened in Skopje, Tirane, Durazzo and Scutari, in which continuous flows of medicines, food and first-aid materials arrived, mainly thanks to French and German airlifts requested by the relative national bodies.
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Albania. Tirane. The arrival of humanitarian aid through an airlift organised by ECOM (Emergency Corps Order of Malta) for the populations affected by the armed conflicts in Serbia/Kosovo. |
General Situation
On 23 March 1999, some
days before NATO started bombing raids in the Balkans, the Emergency Corps
Order of Malta (ECOM) had already activated the most immediate humanitarian
aid programmes in the crisis areas. An ECOM team left on 26 March 1999,
to assess the situation for possible ECOM operational missions in Albania
and Macedonia where the majority of the Kosovo-Alabanians had fled. The
ECOM team found disastrous conditions on the Kosovo/Albanian/
Macedonian borders, confirming the urgent need for medical supplies, food
and, in particular, shelter for the refugees. ECOM thus immediately deployed
various units to supply medical materials and medical and psychological
assistance.
ECOM concentrated its action on missions in Albania, already affected by its own internal tensions and with an insufficient infrastructure for coping with the great exodus of refugees across the border. The Order’s local units (the Embassy and Ambulance Corps), supplied immediate and effective aid, helped by the ECOM rescue missions in Albania, which also supported the Caritas organisation for its projects in Macedonia.
In September 1999, according to official reports, almost 750,000 refugees returned to Kosovo. ECOM consequently switched its activities from assistance to refugees in Albania and Macedonia to welfare and humanitarian aid for the population in Kosovo. The reconstruction of the villages and infrastructure represent today an absolute priority. Despite, the presence of KFOR troops to guarantee security and welfare of the Albanians, Serbs and other minority groups, the situation is far from any national reconciliation or between the multiethnic social groups.
This report is a summary
of ECOM’s activities
in the region since the crises began to
have international repercussions.
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H.E. the Grand Hospitaller of the Order, Albrecht Freiherr von Boeselager. |
The verifications
The reconnaissance missions in March 1999 prompted the planning of three specific projects in Albania e Macedonia (described in detail below). Another reconnaissance unit was sent to Kosovo at the end of June, just after the Ramboillet treaty entered into force, with the aim of assessing operations in the various sectors controlled by the allied forces. It was immediately obvious that prompt support was needed for the Vucitrn hospital, in the French sector, and programmes for bringing back, with the help of ECOM (German Malteser), refugees in the German sector. For a better co-ordination, it was proposed to set up an ECOM office in Pristina.
n Macedonia
ECOM has set up a logistics centre in Skopje that collaborates with SMOM’s embassy and the local Caritas units for the distribution of humanitarian aid and to support the social centres of the local Caritas. The Belgian, Dutch and German Associations have amply contributed to the success of this mission. The project was financed with their own funds.
n Albania
Durres/Spitalle
The field hospital, equipped by ECOM and the French Hospitaller Works (OHFOM), has been functioning since 9 April 1999. Belgian and Germany nurses, but above all the French doctors, have provided basic health, surgical, paediatric and gynaecological services to around 100 patients a day. The most common afflictions were viral diarrhoea, respiratory infections and skin diseases, with frequent hypertension, psychological disorders and rheumatism. The most critical cases were transferred to hospitals in Italy. During these operations, the Belgians offered all their cooperation and aid. The project was financed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – UNHCR, German Technical Co-operation – GTZ and the French Government.
Skhodra
While the Austrians right from the beginning set up refugee camps, ECOM/German Malteser prepared the infrastructures for a camp with fixed equipment for a year. This task also included the supply of medical and health structures, the organisation and distribution of food in the camps, water purification units and housing units for the refugees. The Austrian army has been of great help, not only in maintaining the field hospitals but also in defending the logistics personnel and equipment.
ECOM/German Malteser has reconstructed units and services, organising administration offices and provided assistance to reunite families. Social and psychological assistance was also offered to alleviate the situation in the refugee camps. The project was financed by UNHCRM, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and own funds.
n Republic of Yugoslavia
Vojvodina
Vojvodina has received support and humanitarian aid from 4 May to 9 June 1999. Tonnes of food, medicines and hygiene items collected in Germany have been transported in the region and distributed to the population by the Rumanian and Hungarian Associations/Ambulance Corps. The project uses its own funds.
n Montenegro
Also in the province of Montenegro food supplies have been delivered and distributed to meet the needs of 65,000 refugees. The Montenegro volunteers of the local ECOM/German worked so effectively that the relief project of the European Community Humanitarian Office – ECHO, launched by ECOM/German Malteser, has been adopted and successfully concluded by the local authorities. The project was financed by ECHO and its own funds.
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Macedonia. Skopje. Distribution of food by Ambassador Granser with volunteers of ECOM (Emergency Corps Order of Malta). The Order’s Ambassador in Macedonia organised continuous assistance for needy families from the beginning of the crisis in the Balkans. |
n Kosovo
Medical Assistance
ECOM and OHFOM are running a hospital with a team of eight doctors in Vucitrn. Victims of anti-personnel mines are becoming increasingly frequent but the programmes for their medical rehabilitation are proceeding well. ECOM and OHFOM intend to train medical staff for gynaecological and first-aid services. The project is anced by the French Government and its own funds.
Carpentry Workshop Project
To help reconstruct Kosovo, a Carpentry Workshop has been set up, designed by ECOM/ German Malteser. The aim is to rebuild the houses, mobilising local workers and materials to revitalise the economy and commerce. The project uses its own funds.
Project for the Women of Kosovo
Following the success of the project implemented in Bosnia, clinics have been set up for the women of Kosovo who have suffered traumas, offering them also the possibility of a meeting centre. The project is financed by UNHCR and its own funds.