Teams representing the Order of Malta’s relief organizations from Ireland, Italy, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine participated in the ‘Maltese Rescue Maneuvers’ training and simulation exercise held 13-14 September in Romania in the village of Repedea, only few kilometers from the border with Ukraine.
The maneuvers were organized by the Serviciul de Ajutor Maltez în România (Maltez/SAMR)- the Order of Malta’s Romanian aid service – and supported by local volunteer firefighters from Poienile de Sub Munte, who also joined in the exercises with their equipment and expertise, and competed as a team on the last day.
During the first day of the exercise, volunteers were asked to work together in mixed teams. This was a challenge involving not only linguistic barriers but also the need to blend diverse operational procedures, enhancing confidence, knowledge, and interoperability skills of the first responders. The final contest, organized between national teams, was won by the Ukrainian Relief Corps with the Irish team coming in second place.
The event, attended by the Order of Malta’s Ambassador to Romania and the Hospitallers of the Polish and Romanian Associations, is part of a series of exercises established last year in Poland to develop and share experiences among the Order’ relief organizations, enhancing the Order’s capabilities and interoperability.
The importance of such training in expanding the Order’s ability to respond to international crisis was articulated during the 30th International Hospitallers’ Conference held in Krakow in March, with further exercises planned in the near future.
