Magen David Adom’s ISRAEL
Ukrainian Refugee Assistance Center helps locate missing relatives.
MDA paramedics in Poland.
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ince World War II, Magen David Adom, Israel’s national paramedic and Red Cross service, has operated a tracing unit for locating displaced relatives and renewing family ties. On Monday, March 7, MDA opened a hotline to assist Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Israel. An estimated 3,000 are already there. Russian- and Ukrainian- speaking volunteers are providing assistance regarding medical needs, and navigation and coordination among the various service and governmental agencies. But they are also receiving requests to find lost relatives. In the first 24 hours of operation, more than 100 inquiries were made, many seeking MDA’s assistance in locating missing family members. It is not clear if 50
MARCH/APRIL 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE
those relatives are still in Ukraine or have fled to Israel or another country in Europe, or even if they are alive, dead, or injured. MDA is working with the Ukrainian Red Cross and its counterparts in Europe to locate the relatives. “We are working vigorously to ease the trauma experienced by these people who have been torn from their homes and families,” said Eli Bin, MDA’s directorgeneral. “We hope to reunite them with loved ones and provide them with some comfort and closure. AFMDA has launched a Ukraine Emergency Appeal to supporting EMTs and paramedics working near the conflict, lifesaving supplies, equipment, vehicles, and services for Ukrainians seeking temporary or permanent refuge in Israel: afmda.org/donate-ukraine
