[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 15, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2768-S2769]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      HADASSAH'S WORK IN SARAJEVO

 Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, as a life member of Hadassah, the 
Women's Zionist Organization of America, I am proud of their 
humanitarian work around the world. I am also proud that Hadassah's 
founder, Henrietta Szold, was born in my hometown of Baltimore.
  Private philanthropy cannot take the place of public policy. But it 
can play a vital role in providing aid and comfort in places like 
Bosnia--where medical facilities have been decimated by war.
  I am pleased to share information with my colleagues on Hadassah's 
international relief work. I ask that Hadassah's report on their work 
in Sarajevo be printed in the Record.
  The report follows:

  Hadassah Nurses Councils Organize Massive Relief Effort for Sarajevo

       Just a year after its founding in 1912, Hadassah, the 
     Women's Zionist Organization of America, sent two intrepid 
     nurses, Rose Kaplan and Rachel Landy, to Palestine to treat 
     the malnourished and diseased mothers and children of 
     Jerusalem, thereby laying the foundation for its ongoing 
     medical work in Israel. More than 82 years later, in August, 
     1994, Hadassah again sent its nurses on an arduous journey, 
     this time to the besieged city of Sarajevo. Elsie Roth and 
     Kathryn Bauschard of St. Louis, Dianna Pearlmutter of Boston, 
     and Charlotte Franklin of Santa Barbara, all members of 
     Hadassah's nurses councils, went to assess the medical needs 
     of the war-torn city and plan and coordinate the delivery of 
     much needed medical supplies and clothing.
       Traveling under the banner of the United Nations High 
     Commissioner for Refugees, the nurses visited Kosevo Hospital 
     and the State Hospital of Sarajevo during their 7-day trip. 
     The nurses met with hospital administrators, doctors, nurses, 
     and other personnel and inspected operating rooms, pediatric 
     wards and pharmacy supply centers. They found deplorable 
     conditions in the hospitals, which lacked even the most basic 
     medical supplies.
       At the time of their visit, Deborah Kaplan, Hadassah 
     National President, stated, ``Hadassah has a long-standing 
     commitment to providing humanitarian aid throughout the 
     world. We are proud to sponsor these four courageous women 
     and, through the Hadassah Nurses Councils, will work to 
     facilitate aid to Bosnia as identified through this 
     mission.''
       Within five months of their return, the nurses, with the 
     help of Hadassah Nurses Councils throughout the United States 
     and in coalition with other organizations, churches and 
     synagogues, amassed 30 tons of medical supplies and clothing 
     valued at $3.5 million for transport to Sarajevo.
       Since the nurses' trip, close connections have been forged 
     between the coalition and the Jewish community of Sarajevo. 
     About 300 Jews, a remnant of the 2,500 Jews from Sarajevo who 
     survived World War II, remain in the city. Under the auspices 
     of La Benevolencija, the Jewish humanitarian society formed 
     in 1892, the Jewish community in Sarajevo has assumed 
     responsibility for caring for the entire community. They 
     operate the pharmacies and other health facilities, 
     distribute foods, operate a daily soup kitchen, and 
     facilitate the evacuation of the elderly and children.
       In this way, the tiny Jewish community, which has existed 
     in Sarajevo for more than 500 years, has been working to save 
     its Catholic, Muslim and Orthodox Christian neighbors. All 
     have been living under increasingly desperate conditions 
     since the Bosnian conflict began nearly three years ago. More 
     than 12,000 residents, including 1,625 children, have been 
     killed and some 60,000 wounded. Medical supplies are not 
     available to treat the sick and injured and restore them to 
     health. Moreover, water, food, gas and electricity are in 
     very short supply. Residents are now resorting to burning 
     what possessions they have left, including old books and 
     family heirlooms, in an effort to survive the winter cold.
       The supplies collected by Hadassah and the other coalition 
     members were shipped to New York for storage in a central 
     warehouse provided by Queens, NY Hadassah. Eight tons of 
     clothing are now on their way to Bosnia by cargo ship. The 
     remaining 22-ton shipment, including pharmaceuticals, medical 
     supplies and uniforms, has already been sent from Dover Air 
     Force Base on air force planes to Croatia where it will now 
     be airlifted by the United Nations directly to Sarajevo.
       Hadassah members Sherry Hahn of Arlington and Elsie Roth, 
     taking advantage of the cease-fire negotiated by former 
     United States President Jimmy Carter in December, will return 
     to Sarajevo to meet the shipment and help La Benevolencija 
     distribute the supplies. Hearts will beat again when 
     restarted by a perfectly reconditioned defibrillator included 
     in the shipment. Bodies will heal when external fixators will 
     hold them together without invasive surgery. Limbless people, 
     wounded by shell fire, will walk again when more than 100 
     pieces of prosthetics replace their feet, legs and knees.
       In a letter to Hadassah, Sven Alkalaj, the Bosnian 
     Ambassador to the United States, wrote, ``The Republic of 
     Bosnia and Herzegovina and its people sincerely offer the 
     American organization Hadassah their thanks for the fine 
     activities of four nurses who, despite the dangerous 
     situation in Sarajevo, had the courage to visit our nation's 
     capital. Their mission was one of humanitarian concern and 
     genuine compassion for our citizens who are in need of 
     desperate medical attention.
       ``All of these registered nurses displayed an overwhelming 
     desire to help those in need. Their compassion will long be 
     remembered by those of us who had an opportunity to 
     experience their love of humanity and their zeal for the 
     advancement of the human spirit.''
       Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat, representing the European 
     Community, praised Hadassah, saying that this organization 
     [[Page S2769]] should be proud of the relief they are 
     providing in this tragic situation.
       Hadassah, the WZOA, sincerely thanks the government of the 
     United States, particularly the Department of Defense, for 
     its cooperation in airlifting the relief goods we were able 
     to gather together into this ravaged land.
       For more than 82 years, Hadassah has been recognized for 
     its pacesetting medical care and for the use of its resources 
     and knowledge to benefit all humankind. This is but another 
     example of Hadassah's affirmation of the Mishna's teaching 
     ``Whoever saves one life, it is as if he saved the entire 
     world.'' The women of Hadassah have learned this lesson well. 
     
     

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