About Merlin
Merlin is the only UK specialist charity which responds worldwide with vital health care and medical relief for vulnerable people caught up in natural disasters, conflict, disease, and health system collapse.
Merlin responds worldwide to emergencies and crises caused by:
Natural disasters – such as the Asian tsunami of Boxing Day 2004, the Bam earthquake of Boxing Day 2003, the Goma volcanic eruption in January 2002.
Conflict – including Iraq, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Palestinian Territories
Disease – including TB, Malaria, HIV/AIDS and common childhood diseases
Health system collapse – as in the Former Soviet Union, Liberia, Afghanistan Merlin works where the need is greatest, operating at any one time in up to 20, and often in volatile and unstable, countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the former Soviet Union, reaching over 15 million people every year. Merlin helps people who have little or no access to vital health care, especially vulnerable groups such as women and children. We provide these live-saving services regardless of race, religion or political affiliation.
Merlin’s emergency relief work focuses on:
Preventing and treating epidemics
Distributing emergency drug supplies
Operating mobile clinics
Providing safe drinking water, food and shelter.
Merlin’s health care services include:
Providing doctors, nurses and other health professionals to train, educate and strength local health systems
Provide drugs, medical materials and equipment to clinics and hospitals
Building, renovating and equipping local health facilities
Prevention and control of infectious diseases
Mother and child care, and the care of women before, during and after childbirth
Feeding programmes for malnourished children.
Merlin’s work is supported by the general public, institutional donors, trusts and foundations. Merlin works closely with United Nations agencies, such as WHO, ministries of health, local partner and international non-governmental organisations. We aim that wherever we go, we stay long enough to ensure that our work has an impact for years to come, a legacy of lasting health care. Merlin is a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).
Our history
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Merlin was the inspiration of three friends - a doctor, a manager and a logistician - who created a specialist medical organisation in Britain to send medical teams to disaster zones worldwide.
Dr Christopher Besse, Nicholas Mellor and Mark Dalton wanted to harness the enthusiasm of doctors, nurses and other professionals for overseas aid work with a mandate to care for the sick, prevent disease and rebuild local health services to a state of self-sufficiency. In 1993, from an office set up in the spare bedroom of a London house, Merlin organised its first mission - a convoy bound for war-torn Bosnia carrying £1million worth of essential food and medicines.
Since then, Merlin has grown and is currently employing over 1,500 national and international staff. Merlin has provided medical relief and vital health care in Chechnya, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Albania, Serbia-Kosovo, Russia, Indonesia, East Timor, Sudan, east and west Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Kenya, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Yemen, Rwanda, Mozambique, Guatemala and Honduras.
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