The decision to join forces is a welcome one as Ichud Hatzalah and ZAKA have decided to unite to form an army of rescuers numbering 5,400 volunteers nationwide.

Some might refer to this as the “Big Bang” in emergency services in Israel as the two organizations are combining forces to establish the largest emergency volunteer organization in the State of Israel. A new homefront authority will serve as the umbrella organization that will include ZAKA and Ichud Hatzalah, providing civilian volunteers who will provide a life-saving response around the country in the event of large-scale disaster. This might include a missile attack into civilian population centers, earthquakes, natural disaster, extreme weather events, building collapse or any other mass-casualty event chas v’sholom. Understandably the announced combined effort has been praised by security and defense establishment agencies and commanders.

In day-to-day operations the two organizations will maintain their unique identities while working closely with one another. Ichud (United) Hatzalah will focus on pre-hospital emergency medical care and ZAKA will continue with its rescue teams and the handling of the dead in accordance with Halacha. Both organizations will work together when the need arises, such as a search for a missing person.

The new 5,400 strong army of volunteers includes 3,200 medical professions of the level of EMT, paramedic and physicians. The union of the organizations results in a fleet of 350 ambucycles, 34 ambulances, and 25 SUVs in addition to 14 boats and marine transport vehicles.

Officials from both organizations released a message “In light of the challenges facing the State of Israel, a national volunteer organization of this magnitude is necessary in the civilian community. Experience in Israel and on the global scene has shown that when dealing with mass disasters such as a devastating earthquake, most countries are unable to supply the life-saving personnel required during the first critical hours.”

Ichud Hatzalah founder and President Eli Beer said “The cooperation will enhance the volunteer civilian force throughout the country to 110 cities and municipal councils and 30 regional councils. We will cut the response time in emergency situations and encourage many more volunteers to join the initiative. The activities of the new organization will be accomplished as we encourage professionalism, initiative and innovation.”

ZAKA founder and CEO Yehuda Meshi-Zahav said “We have concluded that there is no substitute for preparedness of the homefront in time of a national disaster. It has been proven that when civilians take part in basic training exercises to extricate themselves and others during the first critical hours of a disaster critical to saving lives, the proportion of survivors would be increase significantly. We will act to bring the first treatment of civilians when needed by the residents themselves.”

Many of the volunteers in both organizations have participated in IDF Homefront training and preparedness training and have participated in simulated mass casualty incidents. In the coming weeks the two organizations will begin increased combined training events towards enhancing uniformity among volunteers and creating a harmonious body capable of facing a major national disaster.

It should be pointed out that the two organizations will continue offering their services without any charge to the public.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)