NNA - During a short visit to Lebanon, the Chairman of the CDU–CSU Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag, Mr. Jens Spahn, visited several humanitarian projects of the Order of Malta in Beirut, reaffirming the long-standing support of Germany for the organization’s work in Lebanon in serving the country’s most vulnerable communities for over 70 years.
Mr. Spahn was accompanied by CDU members of parliament Paul Ziemiak, Jürgen Hardt, and Tijen Ataoğlu, as well as The German Ambassador to Lebanon, H.E. Kurt Georg Stoeckl-Stillfried. The delegation was welcomed by the President of the Order of Malta Lebanon, Mr. Marwan Sehnaoui, alongside the President of the Order of Malta Germany, Mr. Ernst von Freyberg, Mr. François Abi Saab advisor to the embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta to Lebanon, along with representatives of Malteser International, the organization’s long-standing partner.
In the current context, the visit stands as a strong gesture of solidarity with Lebanon and its people, as well as a message of trust in the humanitarian mission of the Order of Malta.
The delegation’s first stop was the community healthcare center in Ain El Remmaneh, where they were briefed on projects funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), with the support of Malteser International. Thanks to this support, nearly 300,000 people across Lebanon currently benefit from these programs.
The delegation toured the facility and learned about the range of primary healthcare and social services provided. They met with staff from the South Mobile Medical Unit and visited the Mobile Dental Unit, part of a program of four Specialized Mobile Medical Units. Members of the delegation also listened to testimonies from beneficiaries, who shared their needs and experiences.
A discussion session followed, highlighting the importance of the Order of Malta Lebanon’s partnerships with Lebanese institutions, including the Lebanese Army, as well as its collaboration with various religious communities. Participants emphasized the organization’s extensive network, which enables it to reach vulnerable populations in the most underserved and remote areas, while upholding the dignity of every person without distinction and contributing to stability, coexistence, and peace.
Welcoming the delegation, Mr. Marwan Sehnaoui stressed the importance of the partnership with Germany, noting that it has enabled the Order of Malta Lebanon to provide an average of 1.5 million services annually, in primary healthcare, social and agro-humanitarian fields, he was joined by Mr. Ernst von Freyberg, President of the Order of Malta Germany, and both expressed their gratitude for the delegation’s support in empowering the Order to serve as a catalyst for stability and peace.
Mr. Spahn, for his part, emphasized the essential role played by the Order of Malta Lebanon within the community, caring for body and soul with the same dedication and attention, as he had observed during his visit. He indicated that this work could constitute a practical solution to conflicts and confirmed that support for this mission would continue.
The visit concluded at the Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, where the delegation was received by Mother Marie Makhlouf, Superior of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross. There, they witnessed activities carried out by the Order of Malta Lebanon and its volunteers in support of highly marginalized patients. For the past 27 years, the organization has supported the congregation by organizing holiday camps for patients, a project initiated by young German volunteers and sustained to this day by Lebanese and international participants.
This initiative reflects a lasting message of solidarity, fraternity, and hope, and underscores the enduring humanitarian partnership between Germany and Lebanon.
