4.
Romanian Maltese Relief Service (SAMR)
Description
Experience
The Romanian Maltese Relief Service (SAMR) is a non-profit association with the headquarters in Cluj-Napoca, which has 23 offices in the country. Over the last 20 years, it has developed an efficient national network of social services where there are 1,500 volunteers activating, out of which 500 are young.
The Romanian Maltese Relief Service has developed the humanitarian services offered in case of natural disasters by helping the isolated people and reducing the negative effects of the catastrophe. During these 20 years, the association initiated well structured emergency intervention projects, responding to both the victims’ primary needs and their long-term needs through sustainable aid in assisted communities.
Directions of the organization’s activities: • • • • • • • • •
Programs for children and young people Programs for elderly people Programs for people with disabilities First aid Interventions in case of natural disasters Spiritual programs Promoting volunteering Socio-medical services Material aid for people and institutions
At present, the association develops over 100 social programs for 4,000 direct beneficiaries. In June 2011 the Presidency of Romania decorated the Romanian Maltese Relief Service with the ”Pentru merit” national order in the rank of Commodore as a appreciation gesture for the social services the organization has offered over the last 20 years.
Geographical areas of intervention The Romanian Maltese Relief Service tries to intervene to help those affected by natural disasters, especially in Cluj, Covasna, Harghita, Maramureș and Timiș counties (where the organization has offices), but also in any other affected community from the rest of the country.
SAMR’s intervention supposes: • Immediate needs assessment, evaluation of available resources and emergency interventions (by supplying goods of immediate necessity to isolated people through voluntary work), as well as specialized intervention (by giving first aid, disposing of debris in case of earthquakes, cleaning up in case of flooding etc). • Assessing and offering help on medium and long term by: temporarily hosting victims of flooding, making repairs to affected households, reconstructing and equipping the houses, drilling deep wells in case of drought.
Examples of interventions International The organization has the capacity to intervene in case of natural disasters in countries such as: Albania, Lithuania, Ukraine, Hungary, through partnerships with local Maltese Relief Services, as well as with Malteser International.
National I. Reducing the effects of drought (2007-2008, Danube Delta, Ialomița and Brăila) 8