48 | FEBRUARY 16 • 2023
Israeli
Rescue Teams
Saving
in
TurkeyLives
ERETZ
U
nited Hatzalah, the
world’s largest volun-
teer emergency medi-
cal service, has a team of 25 vol-
unteers on the ground in Turkey
to help save lives following the
devastating earthquakes that
have claimed the lives of more
than 35,000 people as of Feb. 13.
The team consists of doctors,
medics, search-and-rescue
specialists and psychotrauma
experts, and is working mostly
in Gaziantep. The nonprofit
organization also brought 10
tons of medical supplies and
first-responder gear to the disas-
ter site, including first-aid equip-
ment, blankets and clothing.
The operation is being led by
IDF Maj. (res.) Yossi Cohen, a
United Hatzalah volunteer who
is also a reservist in the Home
Front Command’s Liaison Unit.
The team of volunteers was
selected from a pool of 400
United Hatzalah members who
had volunteered to go to Turkey.
According to Cohen, “It’s a cer-
tain type of people” who choose
to volunteer in disaster sites.
“The amount of damage
wrought by the earthquakes is
enormous. We are bringing all
of our knowledge and manpow-
er from previous experiences
responding to disasters to assist
in the rescue efforts currently
taking place in Turkey,
” said Dov
Maisel, United Hatzalah’s vice
president of operations.
The aftermath of the earth-
quake has left a path of destruc-
tion and trauma in its wake. UH
representative Jeremy Cole told
JNS that the first responders are
grappling with “the immense
grief that is taking place over
there” and the psychological
impact of their role as first
responders.
Volunteers on the ground
report that residents are forced
to burn mattresses and garbage
to keep warm in temperatures
that have plummeted to -4°
Celsius (about 25° Fahrenheit),
making the air thick with toxic
fumes, he said.
“One of the most shocking
things is just the deep trauma
that is being inflicted on the
population,
” he said, adding,
“People are still screaming in the
buildings.
”
The relief organization has
already rescued 10 people from
one building and continues to
search for more survivors. The
team communicates with those
trapped by utilizing tapping
techniques and is using thermal
drone cameras to locate sur-
vivors. In addition to rescuing
survivors, the team is also treat-
ing multiple cases of hypother-
mia. Hand injuries are the most
common they are encountering
— among locals hurt while des-
perately trying to dig people out
of the rubble, Cole told JNS.
“We can’t save everyone, but
everyone saved is a success.
Even if it’s helping a small boy
United Hatzalah is on the
ground amid the devastation
caused by the earthquake.
SHIMON SHERMAN JNS.ORG
A United Hatzalah
volunteer searches
for survivors in
Gaziantep, Turkey,
on Feb. 8.
Want to Help?
“Our hearts go out to the people of #Turkey & #Syria in the aftermath
of the #earthquakes,” the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
posted on its Facebook page. “Through our partners, we are
responding quickly in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. The
devastation is overwhelming, and survivors need our support. Please
give here: jfeds.org/earthquakerelief.”
UNITED HATZALAH
“PEOPLE ARE STILL SCREAMING
IN THE BUILDINGS.”
— JEREMY COLE