Over the last eight years the Sovereign Military Order of Malta has given over ?7 million to Belarus as aid for alleviating consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe, Paul Friedrich von Fuhrherr, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to Belarus, told BelTA. Medical supplies and medications are sent to children’s homes, boarding schools, and hospitals in the Gomel, Mogilev, Vitebsk and Grodno oblasts. The Order of Malta contributes to the professional development of Belarusian medics abroad as well as their cooperation with colleagues from other countries, in particular, Belgium. Paul Friedrich von Fuhrherr remarked, Belarus and the Sovereign Order of Malta established diplomatic relations in 1994 and the bilateral cooperation progresses well. Efforts of the Order are mainly directed at providing aid to ailing people, needy people. The Order pursues a policy of non-interference in domestic affairs of countries. The Sovereign Order of Malta has established diplomatic relations with over 100 countries and has representations in many international organisations, in particular, the World Health Organisation, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, the Council of Europe, and UNESCO. The Order has been a permanent observer in the UN since 1994.