The Sovereign Order of the Knights Hospitallers of St John has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the history of Europe and, indeed, of that of our islands. This archipelago is maybe their largest living museum and is a constant reminder of the historical, architectural, cultural and social riches that this grand order has left us.

… the era of the Knights… is remembered and treasured most fondly- David Casa

The project initiated by Grand Master La Valette and which now hosts our capital city, Valletta, is still regarded by many as one of the finest and most advanced architectural projects of that time.

Of all those who, throughout the ages, conquered Malta and its islands, it is arguably the era of the Knights that is remembered and treasured most fondly.

As the age of the great wars and warriors ended, the importance of the Order as the defenders of Christianity diminished and, for a period of time, it was even lost in the haze of history.

However, even today, in the 21t century and away from the limelight, the Order is still doing a very important job in the field of humanitarian aid.

Earlier this month, the European Parliament was proud to host the Grand Hospitaller Albrecht von Boeselager who, together with several MEPs, including Anna Zaborzka from the EPP Group, discussed the relevance and the importance of the Order in the world of today.

This initiative helped in no small measure to highlight the important work that is being carried out by the Order in distant places such as the South Kivu region of Congo where sexual violence is rampant, the ongoing care of the homeless in Liege and the Order’s fight to eradicate leprosy, an illness that many a time is shrouded in silence.

This interesting encounter in the European Parliament brought to light the fact that we still need organisations such as this one to carry out work that is not only beneficial but indispensable to society, be it in the heart of Africa or in the middle of Europe.

Through their agency, aptly called Malteser International, the Order is financing and offering counselling and rehabilitation to those who have suffered abuse and have been emarginated by society.

Moreover, the Order has gone back to its roots and has founded a family hospital in Bethlehem, where it takes care of families with medical conditions, irrespective of their nationality, colour and creed.

The slogan adopted by the agency is For Life In Health And Dignity and the Order emphasises the right of each and every human being to live life to the full and not merely exist as a number or a statistic.

Through the projects in Africa, Malteser International is helping abused women to empower themselves and fight against discrimination, not with armaments but with wit and education. This exercise has spread as far as India, Pakistan and Afghanistan and its success has been a huge one, so far.

Apart from these projects, Malteser International has made its presence felt in earthquake-stricken areas such as Turkey, Japan and Haiti.

The Order does not limit itself to Third World countries. It is very conscious that poverty exists among us here in western developed Europe.

The number of homeless people in continental Europe is rising at an alarming rate and Malteser International recognises the fact that there is urgent need to address this issue sooner rather than later.

The Order helps in stricken areas on the basis of its unwritten 3Rs rule, that is, through relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation. It focuses, at first, on basic survival and, in later stages, helping out so that stricken communities can start living a normal life in the shortest timeframe possible.

Another issue that Malteser International is very concerned about is the unequal access to potable water. Water is the source of life and lack of it causes illness and malnutrition. The gap between rich and poor is increasing and this manifests itself also in disparity in access to clean water.

“Without a change in policy in how investments are made in the water sector, a large group of people is likely to be left out of receiving the necessary services for the foreseeable future”. Through the WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) programme, the agency is trying to pass this message through.

Centuries have passed since the formation of the Order and its role has changed drastically throughout the years, however, its relevance is ever more important nowadays.

These people are unsung heroes and it is thus important to give them their due credit for the important role they are playing.

Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.