Disaster Relief for Ukraine

As we write this, students from Sapir’s School of Social Work are on the ground in Poland, providing urgent support to Ukrainian refugees as they cross the border to safety. They’re part of an Israeli team organized by Natan – World Wide Disaster Relief, stationed at the Przemysl Humanitarian Aid Center.

For the School of Social Work, emergency intervention is nothing new. Previous missions have included post-hurricane reconstruction in Guatemala, helping Georgian refugees after the war with Russia, and assisting earthquake victims in Haiti. The present Israeli task force consists of ten people, including doctors, nurses, and social workers.

Some 3,000 Ukrainian refugees reach Przemysl every day, many injured, traumatized, or suffering from acute emotional distress.

Sapir’s Dr. Menny Malka, along with three Israeli social work students, work alongside the medical team at a Red Cross field clinic, identify refugees in need of special attention at the transit camp, and work with infants, children and their mothers. After intake, registration and first aid, refugees typically spend the night at the Przemysl facility before seeking longer- term shelter elsewhere. Natan has been providing emergency relief for 17 years and has helped disaster victims in over 11 countries.

Dr. Eitan Shachar, Sapir faculty member and head of Natan’s psycho-social team, says it’s a collaboration that Sapir is proud of, an example of Israeli society at its best. There is no greater privilege, he says, than the opportunity to ease pain and suffering.