Better together: The importance of collaborations in times of crisis

“What was beautiful was the collaboration among the different NGOs and humanitarian aid organizations. We were constantly in close coordination. It was a huge effort. Together we created a glimpse of normality for the ones in need.”

Dr. Avery Hart and Dr. David Shapiro at the Przemysl Refugee Center in Poland

Dr. Avery Hart lives in a suburb outside of Chicago in Illinois, United States, and is a recently retired physician. All his life, he worked in the public hospital system and community health centers. He and his wife are very active members of the local synagogue, where they engage in charitable work and community service. Helping those in need and giving back to the community has always been important to them. Avery and his mechuten, Dr David Shapiro, joined NATAN’s Ukrainian Refugee Relief Operation in Poland in March 2022 as clinical physicians. They provided essential medical care to hundreds of Ukrainians who were forced to leave their homes abruptly. For them, it was the first time they had volunteered in a crisis and worked in an international environment of this magnitude.

in Avery’s words:

The people who crossed the borders and reached the refugee center in Przemysl, Poland were tremendously relieved. I think the biggest relief for them was knowing that they had made it out. They had escaped and made it to safety. But on top of that, they came upon a tremendous outpouring of international support; it included medical aid from NATAN, food from international organizations and clothing from several humanitarian aid agencies. It was a huge effort. All these different NGOs and agencies from all over the world put together everything they could offer and this made it possible to provide the displaced people with all the necessities they needed at this stage of their unknown journey.

Cross-agency teamwork at its best

Dr. Avery Hart talking to volunteers from other humanitarian aid organizations

What was beautiful was the collaboration among the different NGOs and humanitarian aid organizations. We were in close coordination. For example, when the personnel of the organization Rescuers Without Borders (SSF) was shorthanded, they would ask us if we had any doctors who could do a shift with them at the border, and we would send them some team members to help them out. There was a lot of resource and knowledge sharing, as well as other types of coordination. For me personally, one of the most remarkable things was seeing all the different medical relief agencies working next to each other, hand in hand. In the center, you could see the signs of the Polish Red Cross, next to the signs of the MSF, NATAN, Hadassah, the Israeli hospital in Jerusalem, and all sorts of other agencies. Regardless of  background or religious affiliation, everyone who arrived at the center knew they would be treated and receive the medical attention they needed.

Working  together to create a glimpse of normality

Dr. Avery Hart and Dr. David Shapiro working at the center

 The people who needed healthcare were very appreciative of the medical relief efforts at the center. I was struck by how they went from crisis to normality; in the clinic, people would come in and take a seat. Like in any other medical clinical around the globe, the nurse or the emergency medical technician (EMT) would take their vital signs. The displaced people would chat and tell the doctors their stories. And suddenly, in this crazy situation, it would become just a normal visit to the doctor. These quiet conversations with the medical staff had a calming effect and I think that was very important. Together we created a glimpse of normality for the ones in need.  I could observe the same at the children's center next door. It was an activity center where the children could watch movies, use art supplies and play with stuffed animals. While the children were busy drawing pictures and so on, the mothers talked with the social workers. They could unburden themselves about the life crisis that their family was going through and together with the social workers, they discussed the next steps that needed to be taken. It gave them the opportunity to settle at least a little, and this calmness helped them to think clearer and more carefully again. This was tremendously gratifying to see.