Our International Missions
United Hatzalah sends rescue missions around the world when emergencies strike.
On February 24, 2022, Russia declared war on Ukraine. United Hatzalah’s operational managers knew we had to help 50 volunteers stationed in Kiev, Odessa and Uman as part of our Ukrainian branch.
Within 48 hours, we sent a group of 15 United Hatzalah volunteers who reached the Ukrainian-Moldavian border. When they got there, they were able to assess the real needs on the ground. They quickly got to work setting up triage medical centers and supply storage units to greet the thousands of women, children and elderly that were fleeing to the border.
As of March 7, 2022, more than 200,000 refugees have crossed the Moldovan border from Ukraine. They arrived hungry, traumatized and exhausted. The need was overwhelming. United Hatzalah took a bold step forward with the launch of “Operation Orange Wings” to send charter flights with the help of El Al airlines.
The first flight was filled with humanitarian aid, medical equipment and more volunteers. Once unloaded, 150 plus refugees were boarded to come to Israel.
The State of Israel has called for an urgent evacuation welcoming all Jews back home. And United Hatzalah is pioneering this effort.
United Hatzalah was actively involved in providing rescue assistance to Nepal (earthquake in 2015) and Haiti (Hurricane Matthew in 2016) when disaster struck. In both incidents, the United Hatzalah delegation of volunteer emergency medical specialists navigated some of the hardest hit villages and cities and operated on some of the roughest terrain under the most trying conditions. The United Hatzalah volunteers had the best medical equipment, protective gear and communication equipment possible under the circumstances and gave their time, energy and medical assistance to anyone in need. Their passion and professionalism helped save many lives and bring hope to the people of Nepal and Haiti.
On October 27, 2018, during Saturday prayers, 11 people were murdered at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Our Psychotrauma Unit worked day and night with the congregants and the neighborhood at large to help with the severe trauma. Our volunteers visited schools and the JCC to work with kids and helped anyone who needed support.
On Thursday, June 24, 2021, a 12-story, beachfront condominium in the Miami suburb of Surfside, Florida, collapsed. Hundreds of people were trapped for days and 98 people died. Our team provides emotional stabilization services to the families, the community centres and the first responders searching for survivors on the premises. Our professionally trained team helped the community and family members deal with the deep trauma and pain they were experiencing. As part of this delegation, the Psychotrauma Unit’s trauma-trained dog, Lucy, helped numerous people open up and break down with tears, starting their path to healing.
United Hatzalah has encountered many Mass Casualty Incidents (MCIs). This includes several dozen major terrorist attacks, as well as national (tragedy in Meron in May 2021) and international rescue missions. Based on our model and experience, we have developed a 10-day intensive training course that we offer in various locations. To date, United Hatzalah has taught first responders in cities in Mexico, Panama and Australia (Sydney and Melbourne), five states in India and Sri Lanka.
The course can be taught abroad or on United Hatzalah’s own premises. The rigorous ten-day “boot camp” ends with a mock mass casualty drill, a test and a certification ceremony.
If you are interested in a MCI training course for your city, please email Coby Grosbard at [email protected].
