The work of volunteers of the Israeli humanitarian organisation, Magen David Adom (MDA), has been recognised. They have been presented with an award by the foundation set up in memory of the late Israeli prime minister, Menachem Begin.
The Begin Award, presented on 3 December in Jerusalem, was a "mark of esteem" for the activities of MDA volunteers during recent times. Picking up the award on behalf of the MDA volunteers was Moshik Elbaz, a volunteer in Jerusalem for the past 11 years.
The MDA is the equivalent of a national Red Cross or Red Crescent society.
Elbaz, a father of three and grandfather of one, spoke about the work he had done in the past few months of unrest, especially in responding to attacks on Israeli civilians in Jerusalem.
"We are on alert 24 hours a day. Many things change in our private lives, particularly during times of tension," he said, adding that he was not allowed to travel outside Jerusalem. "When an incident occurs, we have to see the horrors and smell the smells and of course, immediately provide the best medical treatment possible in order to save human lives."
Elbaz spoke of the difficulties in combining his unique work with his private life. The need to switch immediately from one to another was illustrated when 11 people died and 50 were wounded in Kiryat Menachem when a bomb ripped through a bus in November 2002.
"A few minutes beforehand I was with my son on the way to school," he recalled. "I rushed to the site of the incident. That second, I 'switched over' in my mind - the same switch we all make. All you think of is how to reach the site as quickly as possible and try and save the lives of as many people as possible.
The scenes Elbaz and his fellow volunteers witness when responding to such attacks - like the one at the Moment Café in Jerusalem in March 2002 - are often traumatic: "People were torn apart. It was a horrendous sight. The smell cannot be described," he said.
As a result of the horrific scenes witnessed by MDA volunteers, many have been receiving psychological support. But Elbaz has never considered stopping his MDA work: "I cannot contemplate such a thing. There is no-one else to do it. What occupies my mind is that there is a bleeding baby or a father of three who can be saved."
Related links:
Israel: appeals and reports
Magen David Adom
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