(Rivista Internazionale - December 1995: The Order of Malta at the General Assembly of the United Nations - 3/3)

The humanitarian aid supplied by the Order has always been among the first to reach the most critical areas of social and civil conflicts. I remember, for example, that during the long years of the civil war in Lebanon, our dispensaries scattered over the entire country took care of thousands of wounded; this was possible because all the fighting parties respected the flag of the Order of Malta with its eight-point cross. Recently, we agreed to contribute to the sanitary needs of the blue helmets in Lebanon and Kuwait, as we did in the past in Central America.

Benin. The surgery of the Order's hospital in Djougou, managed by the French Hospitaller works, offering treatment for the local population.

Furthermore, in 1989, the Order gave assistance to thousands of refugees going from East to West Germany through Hungary and Austria.
The Order has also been one of the first to assure humanitarian aid to the former Yugoslavia.
The Order looks on its humanitarian assistance as a safeguard of the fundamental values of man and as an indispensable instrument for helping to guarantee international peace and security: without these values, political, military and diplomatic action is not sufficient to establish an international order worthy of man. Inspired by these principles, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, thanks to its political neutrality and its supranational character, can carry out a peacemaking and mediating action, respectful of dialogue and understanding among peoples.
The values and purposes of the Order match well with Article One of the United Nations Charter. The Order, in its capacity as Permanent Observer, is fully available to co-operate with the United Nations, especially in the field of humanitarian assistance. In particular, the Order is ready to offer its co-operation to organise forms of medical assistance in support of peace-keeping operations.
With these observations, the «people» of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta join all the PEOPLES of the United Nations in today's celebration, confirming their commitment to co-operate for an even fuller implementation of the objectives of the United Nations Charter.
Finally, let me express the wish that the beginning of the «second fifty years» of the United Nations, with the help of the Almighty, be the dawn of a new era for future generations. May the United Nations increasingly meet the PEOPLES' ambitions of peace, well-being, social progress and human solidarity.

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