Magen David Adom Adds 96 Ambulances for Its 96th Year

Magen David Adom, Israel's national emergency medical service, inaugurated 96 new ambulances at its headquarters in Ramla, The Jerusalem Post reports. The number matches the organization's 96th year of saving lives. The ambulances join a fleet of approximately 2,000 already working across the country.

Supporters in the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Belgium and Australia donated the vehicles through MDA's international friends' associations, according to the Post. Michel Katorza, president of the MDA European Friends Association, and MDA Director-General Eli Bin attended the ceremony with the service's employees and volunteers.

The Post reports the new ambulances will be sent across Israel to strengthen emergency response, cut response times and support MDA teams in both routine calls and times of crisis. "Although 96 is a mature age, Israel's national emergency medical service is young and strong, and brings exceptional modern lifesaving capabilities that enable it to meet the challenges, scenarios and emergency incidents that arise in Israel," Bin said.

Bin thanked the donors and the friends' associations around the world for their work to strengthen MDA in what he called its primary mission: saving lives. For a country that leans hard on its medics, that is 96 more ways help arrives fast.