An Italian flag on display in Rome. Photo: Reuters/Guglielmo Mangiapane.
JNS.org – The Israeli humanitarian aid organization IsraAID is providing support to frontline medical professionals and volunteers in the organization’s emergency units responding to the coronavirus crisis in Italy with the launch of webinars on stress management, psychological first aid and community resilience, it was announced on Tuesday.
IsraAID is working in partnership with La Deputazione Ebraica di Roma, the welfare organization of Rome’s Jewish community, to offer ongoing supervision and guidance, and support to locally led relief activities. Its webinars focus on self-care and ways of coping with stress, and are tailored to the specific needs of frontline workers.
Italy is one of the most affected countries by the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 100,000 cases and more than 11,500 deaths.
IsraAID has maintained close ties with partner organizations in Italy, including in the Jewish community, since its work in the country from 2016 to 2019, following the August 2016 earthquake in Central Italy that killed 299 people.
“We’ve been monitoring the situation in Italy as the coronavirus pandemic has worsened,” said IsraAID CEO Yotam Polizer. “By working remotely with our partners in the Rome Jewish community during this difficult time, we will use our expertise in crisis situations to provide guidance and support as they reach the most vulnerable in the community. Italian communities have shown remarkable strength and resilience as they have been hit by the very worst this disease has to offer.
“We hope to bolster that in whatever way we can,” he said.
