AFMDA board members listen to explanation from MDA volunteer in Ashkelon
צילום: ששון תירם
On emergency mission to Israel's south
Leadership of American Friends of Magen David Adom visits Jewish state to observe how their contributions are saving lives on hourly basis
As the fighting in Israel's south continued for a third week, the leadership of American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) was in Israel for an emergency mission, led by CEO Daniel Allen, to observe how their contributions are saving lives on an hourly basis.
The Projects and Allocations Committee of AFMDA, chaired by Jeremy Fingerman, responded quickly to an MDA request for emergency funding.
With the onset of Operation Cast Lead in late December, AFMDA launched its own Operation "Code Red" immediately mobilizing a record $500,000 in donations to meet the needs of Israel's citizens.
The money raised will fund much needed armored flak jackets, helmets, emergency bomb shelters in the south and emergency medical supplies. AFMDA has raised $10 million dollars for MDA in the period ending on December 31, ensuring that MDA is equipped with the best emergency medical equipment in the world.
"We are very thankful our supporters enabled us to refurbish Magen David Adom stations in Sderot, Beersheba and Ashkelon over the past two years," said Daniel Allen, CEO of AFMDA, mission leader.
"These state of the art stations, and the millions of dollars worth of medical equipment within, ensure these communities the highest-quality care during these trying times."
AFMDA presents $500,000 check to Magen David Adom outside Sderot MDA station (Photo: Sasson Tiram)
The special high level mission of major donors to Israel traveled to Sderot, Ashkelon and Ashdod for briefings with MDA leaders and paramedics and to see MDA in action.
The highlights of their visit included a tour of the state-of-the-art Sderot MDA Station, which is completely fortified with thicker, reinforced walls, ceiling, and roof, followed by the inauguration of a new shelter at the Ashkelon MDA station where they met volunteers.
These locations were hit hard by the war and AFMDA’s efforts ensure the people’s survival. Later the mission visited the MDA station in the northern city of Nahariya, where MDA treated two people wounded in a rocket attack in early January. This site is slated for renovation in 2009, with the aid of AFMDA donors.
The war miraculously has not claimed mass numbers of causalities in these heavily populated cities, but MDA must maintain its around-the-clock vigilance to protect the residents.
In addition to the western Negev's usual compliment of emergency vehicles, volunteers and staff, an additional 200 staffed ambulances have been stationed in the area and teams of volunteers from throughout Israel are serving there on 24 and 48 hour rotations.
Recognizing the threat of Hamas to the people of the western Negev, American Friends of Magen David Adom has concentrated much of its efforts to building new facilities or reconstructing existing ones in that area. Other MDA Stations in the area targeted by Hamas rockets which have been extensively renovated and modernized are Kiryat Gat and Rehovot.
