The Emergency Corps of the Order of Malta

ECOM is the Emergency Corps of the Order of Malta. Its main purpose is to carry out relief operations in the event of natural disasters or armed conflicts. ECOM is always ready for action and to implement long-term recovery projects, also after the acute stage of the emergency. Recent interventions were carried out in Rwanda (1994/95), after Hurricane Mitch in Honduras (1998/99) and in Kosovo (1999/00). Other interventions were carried out after the floods in Poland and in the Czech Republic (1997), in Thailand and in Cambodia (1997), and the earthquakes in Italy (1997) and Colombia (1999).

ECOM's headquarters are in Cologne, Germany.

The struggle against leprosy

CIOMAL (Comite International de l'Ordre de Malte pour la Lepre) was founded in 1958. It has dedicated itself to the fight against leprosy and the discrimination against leprosy sufferers for over 40 years. To date, its two main programmes are being carried out in Cambodia and Senegal where, thanks to newly developed medicine, important results have been achieved in the fight against this terrible disease. Leprosy will certainly be eradicated from the world, although surveillance activities must continue in countries at risk.

In 1999 CIOMAL's mission was broadened to include "the fight against any disease or handicap which leads to social isolation". The most recent programmes are in the support of mothers and children in the third world suffering from AIDS.

CIOMAL, based in Geneva, is a member of the International Federation of Associations against Leprosy (I.L.E.P.) and co-operates with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The International Action of the Order of Malta

Established in the 1960's, AIOM (International Action of the Order of Malta) is the body in charge of co-ordinating the international activities carried out by the national organisations of the Order of Malta.

Through AIOM, the national organisations of the Order exchange information on their international initiatives and rely on a co-ordinating body to ensure the harmonisation of their efforts.
AIOM is based in Rome, in the Order's headquarters in Via Condotti.

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