This morning, the Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra’ John T. Dunlap, addressed the second plenary session of the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025). The 4th Ukraine Recovery Conference, which is taking place today and tomorrow in Rome, has been co-organized by Italy and Ukraine. It aims to mobilize international support for the reconstruction, reform and modernization of the country.

In his address, the Grand Master renewed the appeal of the Order of Malta to the international community to preserve the principles and rules governing International Humanitarian Law: “The deliberate targeting of civilians and relief operators, as well as the planned destruction of social services and infrastructure, are totally unacceptable.”

Fra’ John T. Dunlap emphasized that the human dimension is “one of the cornerstones of recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine” and recalled that some areas should be of the highest priority: “The conditions of the orphans and children; the need for ensuring the best and most comprehensive treatment of those left physically disabled; and the recognition and treatment of many psychological wounds that this tragic war has caused.”

To face the so-called “invisible wounds” of the conflict, the Order of Malta has developed specific programmes to offer individual, family and group psychological support in various centres of the country. In three years more than 60,000 psychological services have been provided, benefitting over 37,000 adults and around 45,000 children and minors, for both internally displaced people and refugees in neighbouring countries.

Tomorrow Pavlo Titko, Director of Malteser Ukraine, will address the Panel 2.6 on the theme: “Strengthening the fabric of society: Fostering inclusion and social cohesion in Ukraine’s recovery.”

Having been on the ground in Ukraine for more than 30 years, since February 2022 the Order has additionally been working with all its Associations, relief corps, and around 1,000 volunteers (both foreign and Ukrainian) to provide medical, social and psychological assistance, as well as safe shelter for the displaced in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, supporting around 4 million people. More than 10,000 tonnes of aid have been distributed in over 70 different locations; 300,000 people have been assisted at borders and over 60 shelters have been set up to accommodate the displaced. As well, in 2022 the Order contributed to the opening of a prosthetic clinic in Lviv to help victims of landmine explosions. To date, over 250 prosthetics have been provided.

With over 80 million euros mobilised, the Order of Malta’s commitment in Ukraine is the largest since its intervention in World War II. The Order of Malta’s entities in Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia have also been actively involved in refugee assistance projects.