Klaas in Africa

Medair

Founded in 1988, Medair is a humanitarian non-governmental organisation (NGO) independent of any political, economic, social or religious authority. Its international headquarters are based in Switzerland - Lausanne. Its mission is exclusively humanitarian and it accomplishes its work in a spirit of dedication and solidarity, inspired by its Christian values. It does not proselytise.

Medair's objectives are to respond to suffering victims in war and disaster situations (especially those which have been forgotten or neglected) by implementing multisectorial relief and rehabilitation projects. Medair currently works in nine countries across the globe and further information about their activities can be found on their website www.medair.org

Although they are called Medair they work in many different areas including: emergency response, medical services, nutrition, psycho-social & reconciliation, training, water sanitation, food security, infrastructure & rehabilitation and capacity building.

Medair employs 50 people in Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, France and Holland. In the field, 120 full-time expatriates help populations in difficulty, with the support of 1600 local employees.

The organisation has obtained the ISO 9001 certification at world wide level for its quality management system.

Mission

The mission of Medair is to respond to human suffering in emergency and disaster situations by implementing multisectorial relief and rehabilitation projects, in a compassionate and serving attitude inspired by its Christian ethos.

Charter

Medair flag Medair is an independent non-governmental organisation whose aim is to respond to crisis situations by running international relief and rehabilitation projects. The members of the Association, as well as Medair personnel, subscribe to the following:

  1. Medair provides assistance to victims of natural disasters, war situations or other catastrophic events without racial, political or religious discrimination.
  2. Medair does not permit any interference in the internal affairs of the States, the Governments and the Parties of the country where it is serving, but expects full freedom to exercise internationally accepted humanitarian principles and standards, especially with regard to access to victims, medical ethics, integrity, confidentiality and neutrality.
  3. Medair will mobilise its available human and material resources to be dispatched on behalf of distressed populations with all due haste and with efficiency, dedication and competence.
  4. Medair personnel of field status will be given specific training to adapt their professional or technical qualifications for best practice in emergency situations
  5. Medair requires that its personnel be voluntary in nature, not accepting any financial or fringe benefit which could influence its action in the field.
  6. Medair staff or personnel accept the risks and perils of their mission prior to engagement and will not claim any compensation for themselves or their beneficiaries. Medair will not negotiate with or pay ransom to any individuals or organisations threatening or abducting Medair personnel. On its part, Medair will seek and use every national or international means and co-operation to support, help and save its personnel.

Important

Medair is a signatory to the "Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGO's in Disaster Relief"

Website

More information can be found at the website of Medair: www.medair.org.