Hammer Forum

The Hammer Forum (officially Hammer Forum Medical Aid for Children e.V.) is a German non-profit aid organization founded on 12 March 1991 during the Second Gulf War by doctors and citizens of the city of Hamm. Its mission is to improve and secure medical care for sick and injured children from war and crisis zones, regardless of religion, nationality or gender, following a strict principle of neutrality. The organization sends qualified volunteer medical teams to crisis areas to examine, treat and operate on children on site, and in exceptional cases flies children who cannot be treated locally to Germany or Austria for medical care. It also focuses on training local medical personnel and building sustainable medical infrastructure in its partner countries, following the principle of 'help for self-help'. Since its founding, more than 750,000 children have received medical care in their home countries and more than 1,800 children have been flown to Germany for treatment. The children receiving individual case aid in Germany are usually between 4 and 13 years old; they are accommodated with host families during their stay and cared for by them during inpatient treatment. After treatment they are flown back to their home countries. Starting with war victims from Iraq, children from Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bosnia, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Georgia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ingushetia, Yemen, DR Congo, Kosovo, Palestine, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, South Sudan, Syria, Chechnya and Uganda have been treated. The organization currently supports stations in Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Eritrea, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau (construction), Yemen, Palestine, South Sudan and Syria. The Hammer Forum is financed almost entirely by donations. In 2007 the organization established the Stiftung Internationale Kinderhilfe Hammer Forum (International Children's Aid Foundation Hammer Forum), and as early as 1995 the Förderverein Verein der Freunde und Förderer des Hammer Forum e.V. (Association of Friends and Supporters of the Hammer Forum) was founded to support its work through public relations, events and donations. The association is based in Hamm, North Rhine-Westphalia, and its executive board consists of three people: Dr. Theophylaktos Emmanouilidis (general, pediatric and visceral surgeon), Dr. Georg Braun (anesthesiologist with a focus on pediatric anesthesia and intensive care medicine) and Klaudia Nussbaumer (pediatric surgical nurse). Together with five additional board members, the board meets usually monthly. The organization is a registered association (e.V.) and is recognized as a non-profit, authorized to issue tax-deductible donation receipts.

The Hammer Forum was founded on 12 March 1991 during the Second Gulf War by doctors and citizens of the city of Hamm, Germany. Initially, it focused on providing medical aid to children affected by the war in Iraq. Over the years, its work expanded to many other crisis regions. In 1995, the support association 'Verein der Freunde und Förderer des Hammer Forum e.V.' was established to support the organization through public relations, events and donations. In July 1995, the organization began operations in Eritrea, initially bringing eleven children to Germany for treatment. Subsequent missions in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000 provided on-site treatment and further transports to Germany. In 2001, a burn unit was established in Asmara, followed in 2002 by the opening of the International Operating Center for Children in Asmara (IOCCA). A neonatology unit was added in 2003, and a maternity clinic opened in 2005. In 2008, a dedicated burn unit with 17 beds and its own operating theater was opened in Eritrea. In Guinea, the organization rebuilt and equipped the destroyed Madina health center in Gueckedou, which resumed work in September 2003. In 2007, the organization established the 'Stiftung Internationale Kinderhilfe Hammer Forum' foundation. Since its founding, more than 750,000 children have been treated in their home countries and over 1,800 children have been flown to Germany for medical care. The organization continues to operate projects in Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Eritrea, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Yemen, Palestine, South Sudan and Syria, focusing on training local staff and building sustainable medical infrastructure.

• 2014

  Start of surgical aid station for children in Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso.

• 2008

  Burn unit with 17 beds and own operating theater opened in Eritrea.

• 2007

  Foundation 'Stiftung Internationale Kinderhilfe Hammer Forum' established.

• 2005

  Maternity clinic opened in Eritrea.

• 2003

  Neonatology unit established in Eritrea; Madina health center in Guinea resumes work in September.

• 2002

  International Operating Center for Children in Asmara (IOCCA) opened.

• 2001

  Burn unit established in Asmara, Eritrea.

• 1995

  Support association 'Verein der Freunde und Förderer des Hammer Forum e.V.' founded.

• 1995

  Operations begin in Eritrea in July; eleven children brought to Germany for treatment.

• 1991

  Founded on 12 March during the Second Gulf War by doctors and citizens of Hamm.

Non-profit, donation-funded medical aid organization for children in war and crisis zones, operating on principles of neutrality and 'help for self-help'.

1. 1Hammer Forum – Medical Aid for Childrenhammer-forum.de
2. 2Über uns – Hammer Forumhammer-forum.de
3. 3Finanzen – Hammer Forumhammer-forum.de
4. 4Vorstand – Hammer Forumhammer-forum.de
5. 5Hammer Forumwikidata.org
6. 6Hammer Forumde.wikipedia.org