7th October 2024
Principality of Monaco
The Embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta in the Principality of Monaco has launched a project to help rekindle hope for thousands of people in the Holy Land: Sidon in Lebanon, Bethlehem and Gaza in Palestine, Jerusalem in Israel. A unanimous path of solidarity and trust towards peace, to be taken together with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem by taking in hand – immediately – 1.665 people, more than 300 families.
It was the first step towards our goal… and we did it before 7th October !
The transfer of 51.000 € – visible in the annex – has been sent to Malteser International – the International Relief Agency of the Order of Malta – which is the operational part in the delivery of aid.
What is collected in Monaco will begin to cover the needs of the population for at least one month through the supply of non-perishable foods such as pasta, milk powder, rice, cooking oil, salt, sugar and other protein products suitable for malnutrition, for an estimated cost of 150 euros for each family. The management arm, necessary to ensure equitable distribution of aid on the ground, will be the Holy Family Parish of Gaza.
The second stage of the project, which concerns the whole of the Holy Land, extends to the regions of Lebanon that were involved in this large-scale conflict and to the Maternity (Holy Family Hospital), run by the Order of Malta in Bethlehem.
On 27th November in Milan is planned the “Holy Land Emergency” Charity Dinner where an important fundraising will guarantee the support of the project.
On the Embassy website MONACOEMBASSY@ORDEROFMALTA.INT there is a link to donate by bank transfer.
Genesis of the Project: On 16th May, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, entered Gaza and reached the parish of the Holy Family for a pastoral visit. The Patriarch was accompanied by Fra’ Alessandro de Franciscis, Grand Hospitaller of the Order of Malta. The delegation met with the suffering population to encourage them and bring a message of hope, solidarity and support.
The visit was the first stop in a joint humanitarian mission to the Latin Patriarchate and the Order of Malta, to provide food and vital medical assistance to the population in the Holy Land.
The Order of Malta which was founded in Jerusalem in the 11th century, has a deeply rooted presence in the region. Since its birth, The Order of Malta has acted to assist pilgrims of any origin, religion, ethnicity, gender or political belief. The motto “Tuitio Fidei, Obsequium Pauperum” (witness to faith and serve the poor and sick) has guided its work for almost 1.000 years. Today, the Order of Malta is present in 120 countries around the world and remains apolitical, neutral and impartial.
The Order of Malta, today more than ever, wants to continue serving the Holy Land both in the territories and at the maternity Hospital of the Holy Family in Bethlehem (where over 4.500 babies are born every year) but also by providing support to the population hard hit by the conflict, regardless of their faith.
”The situation of the population in the Holy Land is difficult to describe with words. Everything is missing. As we learned from our referees in the parish of Gaza-City, there is not a single intact building near their compound, and the entire Gaza Strip is an image of devastation and massive destruction. Access to necessities is limited. Thanks to the collaboration with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Order of Malta has already been able to send more than one delivery of humanitarian aid to support the population on the ground”. These are the tragic words of Dr Thomas Weiss, Head of the Middle East Department at Malteser International, International Humanitarian Aid Agency of the Order of Malta.