(Rivista Internazionale - December 1994: Development of the Order of Malta's activities - 5/5)

Rwanda
Long-term operations
In June 1994, shortly after the outbreak of hostilities in Rwanda, the Order started to provide medical treatment for about 26,000 refugees in Byumba/North Rwanda with a team of two doctors and three nurses of the German Malteser Hilfsdienst and the help of 15 Rwandese medical staff. This project will provide medical assistance for 40,000 refugees until September 1995.
So far, US$ 350, 000 have been raised from public funds and the German Association. For the next 12 months costs of US$ 500,000 are estimated.

Short-term operations
The deployment of an ECOM team (Emergency Corps of the Order of Malta) in Zaire since June 1994 has proved the capability of a multinational team to meet the requirements of a disaster relief programme.
The Order's international emergency corps had to respond quickly to the request for assistance by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
In June 1994, France and Belgium sent a team to Zaire and Burundi to assess the aid requirements, and a concrete project was agreed with UNHCR.
a. Support of existing health infrastructures in Zaire
ECOM chose to support three hospitals and 11 health centres with medicines, disinfectants and food in co-operation with P.A.M. (Programme Alimentaire Mondiale). This task was in line with ECOM's programmes and was very effective because of the possibility of using existing local infrastructures and very positive for the improvement of the climate between the Zairian population and the Rwandese refugees. The beginning of the project coincided with the flow of refugees from Rwanda mainly to the areas of Goma and Bukavu, after the first cases of cholera.
b. Camp Nyakavogo
ECOM is responsible for the camp of about 4,500 refugees, situated some 50 km north-west of Bukavu, in Zaire. Thirty local helpers and the refugees themselves assist in the camp, with the support of the French Airforce first and German and US air transport later, for the transport of supplies.
c. Camp Adikivu
In August, ECOM took over a second camp, 30 km north of Bukavu, serving about 4,500 refugees. Also here the infrastructures had to be established, taking advantage of the experience gained in Nyakavogo by ECOM'S French and Belgian staff.
d. Water purification project
In July, the ECOM water purification unit, run by Malteser Hilfsdienst, was sent to the area of Bukavu and established three water purification systems in the camps of Chimanga and Kachucha. Since early August, 200 M3 of drinkable water were produced daily, serving 50,000 refugees. After permanent water supply lines were established in Kachucha, the water purification systems were transferred to the camps at Hongo and Adikivu.
ECOM decided, in accordance with UNHCR, to take over a third camp in the Bukavu area, for about 6,000 persons. The German Malteser Hilfsdienst sent a medical team of (2 doctors, 4 nurses), who since the end of August have been providing medical help for 17,000 refugees in the Cathedral of Bukavu, supported efficiently by Rwandian doctors and nurses. An Irish doctor will further reinforce the team. France sent a hospital which is currently being built in the Adikivu camp, offering day care, obstetrics and surgery.

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