Principality of Monaco, 6th September 2024
The Embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the Principality of Monaco intends to launch a new project to contribute to the rebirth of hope for thousands of people in the Holy Land.
It will be a path of solidarity and trust towards peace, to be made together – the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Order of Malta – taking in hand from now 1.665 people, more than 300 families. *
We start immediately the project with the first goal of collecting a minimum of 50 thousand euros here in Monaco.
With these first contributions, we will cover the needs for at least one month by sending non-perishable food such as pasta, milk powder, rice, cooking oil, salt, sugar and other protein foods suitable for malnutrition, for an estimated cost of 150 euros per family.
Then we will continue with a second fundraising. In fact, on 27th November, a Charity Dinner is planned in Milan to support the project “Holy Land Emergency”.
The operational arm that will ensure the equitable distribution of aid on site will be the Holy Family Parish of Gaza.
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. His Beatitude 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 to 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 was founded in Jerusalem in the 11th century and 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” has guided its work for almost 1.000 years. Today, the Order 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 not only through the Hospital for 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, welcoming people of all faiths.
The relief action:
For these reasons and thanks to the cooperation agreement signed between the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Sovereign Order of Malta, our Embassy in the Principality also wishes to participate actively in the aid delivery project with the precious support of its international relief Agency Malteser International.
The first aid, consisting of hygiene items and non-perishable food items, has already been delivered to the project’s partner Parish in northern Gaza and distributed to people in the surrounding area. A thousand families, more than 5,000 people, have already received the first relief supplies. Our Embassy in the Principality of Monaco wishes to continue this path by extending, by October, the aid to at least another 300 other families, to help nearly 2.000 people in the first month, and then continue, in the second phase, with the Charity Dinner at the Palazzo Parigi in Milan on 27th November.
*”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 Thomas Weiss, Head of the Middle East Department Malteser International, International Humanitarian Aid Agency of the Order of Malta.
To find out how to support the project, do not hesitate to ask for further information at the Embassy: MONACOEMBASSY@ORDEROFMALTA.INT
On the left, Fra’ Alessandro de Franciscis, Grand Hospitaller of the Order of Malta, in the centre, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and on the right, Father Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza
