Humanitarian Aid Mission to Polish-Ukrainian Border: A Hadassah Healthcare Professional's Perspective

Abstract

Background: In April 2022, Hadassah Medical Center sent a humanitarian mission to Poland to assist Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war.

Objective: To provide medical and humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees in Poland and reflect on the experience and its impact.

Methods: A team of healthcare professionals from Hadassah Medical Center spent almost 10 weeks in Poland, offering medical care, psychological support, and various forms of humanitarian assistance.

Key Observations:

1. Similarity between refugees and aid workers, highlighting the universality of human suffering in war.
2. Diverse range of assistance provided, extending beyond medical care to include coordination, psychology, and social work.
3. Positive impact of medical clowning on traumatized children.
4. Influence of Hadassah's organizational culture on the mission's effectiveness and its impact on other aid organizations.

Results: The mission successfully aided hundreds of refugees, providing medical care, emotional support, and practical assistance in various forms.

Conclusions: The humanitarian mission demonstrated the importance of comprehensive aid in crisis situations. The Hadassah team's organizational culture and professional approach positively influenced both refugees and other aid workers. The experience provided personal satisfaction to team members and reinforced the value of empathy, professionalism, and determination in humanitarian efforts.