The Federation of Autonomous Priories of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, ( KMFAP ), as a legal and direct descendent of the old Order of Saint John of Jerusalem also known as the Hospitaller Knights, or more recently as the Knights of Malta, because of its vocational roots and in the fulfilment of its historical mission, upholds a constant concern for all peoples affected by illness, catastrophes or emergencies and the consequent obligation of assisting them. 

The legacy of Love and Care for the fellow human beings that our founding fathers left us, is an example to all since they, prominent men of high origins and superior social status, as Knights, humbled themselves before the destitute and the needy by treating, tending, serving them and addressing them as “Our Lords the Sick.” 

We may say indeed that our founding fathers, the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem - the Hospitaller Knights - built up and constituted in their time the first and very sophisticated Emergency Task Force provided with a full follow-up operational system of Assistance Services.

The legacy of the forefathers of our Sovereign Order and State was that of constantly patrolling the roads to the Holy Places in the centuries past, in search of the infirm, the destitute and the pilgrims victim of violence and persecution, for the purpose of bringing them to the “Sacra Domus Hospitalis” of Saint John for men, or to the Saint Madeleine Hospital for women, in Jerusalem, where they were comforted, tendered, treated and healed. 

As our World evolves, changes and perfects itself through the centuries, so do our Concepts and our Concerns: For us, today, “Our Lords the sick” are not only pilgrims battered by thieves or affected by physical, severe and critical diseases.

“Our Lords the sick” of the 21st Century are all and each human being victim of states of emergency resulting from natural and endemic disasters, illnesses, starvation, climate change related catastrophes, critical medical emergencies and all and each human being from whom human dignity has been taken away. 

For these reasons, on January 1st 1998, the Grand Magisterial Office of the State of the Federation of Autonomous Priories of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, ( KMFAP ) by proposal of H.E. the Minister for Foreign Affairs, established a commission composed by selected Knights, and by eminent doctors and experts recognised worldwide among the most prestigious figures in the field of Emergency Care and of Medical Emergency, with the purpose of designing a worthy project were to regroup, co-ordinate and organise in a more efficient and effective fashion the dispersed and separate efforts, interventions, services and experiences of the Federation and of its Knights in this humanitarian endeavour throughout the World, in order to design a comprehensive Twenty-First Century, 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, Assistance Services and Emergency Care Service of the Federation, following and within the spirit of the new Constitution of the Order of June 24, 1994.

As a result of the works of this commission the project Femeraid International was born ( Femeraid means Federation Medical Aid ). 

On June 24th 1999 His Most Eminent Highness the Regent of the Federation ( KMFAP ), having approved the project submitted by the said commission, granted the Foundation Charter of Femeraid International. 

On May 15th, 2001 a meeting for the purpose of Incorporating Femeraid International took place at the Grand Magisterial Office in the city of New York and on that same date its Certificate of Incorporation in the State of the Federation ( KMFAP ) was duly executed. 

On August 15th 2002, the Femeraid International Certificate of Incorporation was filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of New York. 

Femeraid International is now the administrative and executive structure were to regroup, consolidate, promote, develop, co-ordinate, organise and execute all Humanitarian Services of Assistance and of Emergency Care Services of the Federation of Autonomous Priories of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta,( KMFAP ) throughout the World, for assisting the needy, with especial emphasis on ethnic minorities and low income groups.

Within this context of human solidarity and preservation, depending on the nature of the required action, and in the development and maintenance of a system to assist any fellow human being in need or any endangered individual or individuals, there are chiefly three kinds of response:

• Assistance Services
• Emergency Care Services  
• Donations of all kinds with special relevance to the donations of medicines, medical equipment