ICEJ Donates Paramedic Kits to Sadot Negev Region in Israel

ICEJ Donates Paramedic Kits to Sadot Negev Region in Israel

By ICEJ Staff Writers

On a recent visit to Israel’s south, ICEJ’s Senior VP and International Spokesman David Parsons and VP of AID and Aliyah Nicole Yoder met with Rafi Babian, the security chief of the Sadot Negev Regional Council and one of the Israeli heroes amid the Hamas terror invasion last October 7. After Rafi’s traumatic experiences that harrowing day, he urgently requested paramedic kits for all 16 communities under his watch in southern Israel, and the Christian Embassy was honored to donate these kits on behalf of our donors.

Rafi has many roles as a licensed ambulance driver, trained paramedic, firefighter, and policeman, and on that “Black Shabbat,” he needed all those acquired skills. When the first massive barrage of rockets landed early that morning, he initially thought it was a routine rocket attack. But as he quickly left his community and a house full of holiday guests in Kibbutz Alumim to report for duty, he was surprised by heavily armed terrorists on the surrounding roads.

Rafi Babian shows off a paramedic kit donated to Israel by the ICEJ — *Rafi Babian, the security chief of the Sadot Negev Regional Council*, *with an ICEJ-donated paramedic kit on his back*

With battles raging all around and many of his region’s communities on fire, Rafi led his first-responder teams in bravely entering dangerous areas to evacuate civilians and aid the wounded. The scene was heart-wrenching as wounded (and some badly burned) people, as well as the deceased, were brought to a central point for treatment and evacuation. Some were beyond help and even hard to identify.

“The only thing I could do for those caring for the wounded was offer the paramedic kit from my truck and a small first aid kit,” Rafi said. “I am comforted to know that even these meager supplies saved lives.”

Yet despite their best efforts, Rafi and his team could only do so much. Lacking stretchers, they improvised by loading mattresses from nearby houses onto wagons borrowed from local farmers to evacuate the injured.

More Paramedic Kits for Southern Israel

Apologizing for the emotion in his voice, Rafi stressed why he had asked us for help in procuring more paramedic kits for southern Israel: trained professionals like him could use the kits to save more lives. The kits come packed with specialized airway tubes, suction equipment, IV infusion setups, and many other items crucial for treating the severely wounded.

A paramedic kit donated to Israel by the ICEJ — *Rafi Babian displays a medical kit for*
*Sadot Negev Regional Council*.

“These medical supplies were sorely needed. We prepare for the worst but hope that another October 7 never occurs,” Rafi said, his voice cracking from the painful memories that are still fresh. “Thank you so much for your donation. We truly appreciate it—and even more for the emotional support in times of crisis [like] the encouraging phone calls to check in on us.”

“Though many families aren’t sure if they will return, I hope we may meet again when the flowers bloom and the children return to our communities,” he added.

Kibbutz Alumim

Kibbutz Alumim, located in the Sadot Negev region, was among the many communities whose members fought hard for survival against the terrorist onslaught that day. This area has shown remarkable unity and resilience. In Alumim, the community members defended themselves for over seven hours without any IDF assistance, eventually taking out 38 Hamas terrorists. Sadly, 22 of their foreign workers lost their lives.

Hard-hit area in southern Israel after October 7 — *Israeli security next to burnt cars near the entrance to Kibbutz Alumim near the Israeli-Gaza Border, southern Israel, October 9, 2023*
*(Photo by Yossi Zamir/Flash90)*

In May the community held a Memorial Day ceremony where the foreign workers had lived on the kibbutz, which included prayers in Hebrew and Thai, a traditional Jewish song of belief in the Messiah, and HaTikvah, Israel’s national anthem. Contemplating the situation in Israel, Rafi said: “Though I am not well-versed in Christianity and Islam, I have studied them somewhat. … I remember praying alongside representatives of all three religions in one of our burned fields a few years ago when the fire balloons were coming over the border and setting our farmland ablaze. I fervently hoped our prayers for peace would be heard. Today I am unsure if true peace will ever come, but I cling to the hope that we can leave a better world for our children. Prayer sustains me. Without faith, I would be utterly lost.”

As our meeting ended, Rafi shared that he was finally going to speak to a trauma counselor about what he went through on October 7. “Since that day, I haven’t spoken about what I witnessed as people were evacuated. It’s time to process the past so we can build the future,” he confided.

Help Israelis impacted by October 7 rebuild their lives—give to the Israel in Crisis fund today.

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