Malteser International Annual Report 2007 - Ordine di Malta

Anke Barth
DR Congo: In demonstration gardens, the women learn how to plant vegetables rich in vitamins.
R e f u g e e s a n d i n t e r n a l ly
displaced persons (IDPs )
Worldwide, about 35 million people, the
majority of them women and children,
are on the run from conflicts and human
rights abuses. About ten million of
them have crossed an international
border during their escape. More than
twice as many are on the run within
their own country. Often, they have
to leave everything behind. Therefore,
they are especially vulnerable and need
international protection and assistance.
Refugees have a legal status based
on the international refugee law and
in particular on the Geneva Refugee
Convention established in 1951. The
“non-refoulement” principle prohibits
repatriating people into countries where
their life or their freedom are in danger.
The United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) takes care of the
refugees together with humanitarian
partner organisations.
DR Congo: Poster for the fight against the plague in Ituri: “United in the fight against the plague – To prevent an
infection by the plague, we don’t let our children touch dead rats.“(left); “When a person suffers from headache
and has a temperature and a sore throat, you should immediately take him to the health centre. There, the plague
is cured effectively and free of charge.“ (right).
In the provinces of South Kivu and
Orientale the organisation supports 27
health zones with a total of 380 health
centres. To improve the living conditions
of the people in very remote areas
the organisation, together with local
partners, reconstructs roads and bridges
in the two provinces to enable assistance
to reach the regions. During the year,
Malteser International further expanded
its activities in the effort to fight against
malaria and distributed 10,000 mosquito
nets to pregnant women. These activities
were supported by the “World Swim for
Malaria” campaign and by “Deutsche
Post World Net”. Together with the World
Food Programme and the European
Commission, Malteser International
Internally displaced persons (IDPs),
in contrast to the refugees, stay within
the borders of their own country.
Therefore, the local authorities and
governments are responsible for them in
the first place. Often, these institutions
cannot or do not want to take care of
them and the international community
is required to intervene. But so far, there
is no convention and no international
organisation with the clear UN- mandate
to protect IDPs (like the UNHCR for
refugees). As a consequence, many of
them live in unofficial camps, slums or on
the constant run without a permanent
home. Humanitarian organisations
provide emergency relief under
precarious circumstances and offer some
kind of protection.
Africa
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