MDA and Jordanian Red Crescent joint simulation

Magen David Adom and the Jordanian Red Crescent have a long tradition of cooperation; one of the key projects has been the training of Jordanian Students as Paramedics by the Ben-Gurion University and MDA. These 14 students were some of the participants in the first joint simulation of MDA and the JRC.

The scenario was of an earthquake that hit both countries, leaving thousands of people homeless, and isolated due to the disruption of roads and damage to the airports. For the sake of the simulation, MDA’s task was to set up a camp for 5000 tourists who were stranded in Eilat, until they were repatriated. MDA requested assistance from the Jordanian Red Crescent, who immediately and willingly sent its Emergency Response Team to support the operation.

In the words of one spectator, “if they didn’t wear different uniforms we would not have noticed that these were 2 different teams, and would have thought that this is one team working together“.

MDA’s Director General and the JRC’s president pointed out the importance of international cooperation in their greeting to the participants, as displayed during the latest earthquakes. They also highlighted the fact that this cooperation is unique to sister national societies in the Red Cross movement.

MDA and JRC will keep working together on their contingency plans, response capacity and cooperation, so that they are fully prepared for any eventuality that might occur in the future.