ResilienceIsrael Red Cross affiliate building underground blood bank to ensure supply during crises
Magen David Adom, the Israeli affiliate of the Red Cross, is building an underground blood bank in order to secure the country’s blood supply in case of attacks or natural disasters. “With all blood transfusions stored in an underground space, the facility will ensure that they remain unharmed even when the building is under a massive barrage of missiles,” Magen David Adom director said. The terror organization Hezbollah has an estimated arsenal of over 130,000 rockets capable of firing at Israel — more than the combined amount of the twenty-seven non-U.S. NATO member states.
Magen David Adom, the Israeli affiliate of the Red Cross, is building an underground blood bank in order to secure the country’s blood supply in case of attacks or natural disasters.
A cornerstone-laying ceremony was held on Wednesday in Ramle. The $110 million facility will be able to store 400,000 pints of blood — one-third greater capacity than Magen David Adom’s current facility in Ramat Gan — and will be able survive a missile attack or an earthquake. It is also located closer to Israel’s main highways, which will allow the blood to reach its destination more quickly.
“With all blood transfusions stored in an underground space, the facility will ensure that they remain unharmed even when the building is under a massive barrage of missiles. Securing the national blood center to prevent blood shortage and meet our transfusion requirements is a national goal of the utmost importance,” said Magen David Adom director Eli Bin.
The terror organization Hezbollah has an estimated arsenal of over 130,000 rockets capable of firing at Israel — more than the combined amount of the twenty-seven non-U.S. NATO member states.
The organization has so far raised $74 million of the necessary $110 million for the facility. $25 million has been donated by Home Depot founder Bernie Marcus and his wife Billi.
Magen David Adom also opened up a new station on Monday in the northern city of Baka al-Gharbiya, which was donated by Netherlands Friends of MDA. Dutch Ambassador to Israel Gilles Beschoor Plug, and the city’s mayor, Mursi Abu Mukh, were on hand for the ceremony.
The new facility will serve the 35,000 residents of the city as well as the surrounding areas, increasing the availability of emergency care in the region. It will also handle humanitarian activities such as food donations and first aid classes.
“The message here is that Muslims, Jews, and Christians can do great things in this world,” Abu Mukh said at the ceremony. “Today is living proof that we are uniting in order to do good despite what is happening in the world.”
This article is published courtesy of The Tower
