Alerted by the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Foreign Ministry, the Order of Malta has promptly intervened after the torrential rain lashing Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, since the beginning of September caused several deaths and left 150 thousand people homeless. As a first step, the Order’s ambulance, permanently present in the city, immediately transported ten victims with serious fractures and concussion to hospital.

At the same time, a group of nurses from the Saint-Jean de Malte hospital went to help in the most stricken areas.

Following the Ministry’s request to take care of the children, the Order of Malta’s first-aid team and ambulances in Bobo Dioulasso were asked for their support. Within a few hours, two vehicles, including an ambulance, first-aid and logistic equipment (four large tents, stretchers, cots and blankets) arrived in the capital.

A tent camp has been set up for some 150 children and their mothers. The distribution of water and food has been organized and the Order’s trucks have been transformed into first-aid stations staffed by nurses and rescuers together with Burkina Faso volunteer doctors.

The Ordre de Malte France and Malteser International, the Order of Malta’s international relief corps, have worked together in providing emergency aid.

Over the next few days, the distribution of food, blankets and basic necessities will be organized in cooperation with archbishop Philippe Ouadraogo. To enhance its emergency accommodation capability, the Ordre de Malte France has decided to purchase and send two large tents measuring nine metres by six. Once the emergency aid is in place, the post-disaster needs have to be tackled.