Three Ambulances Depart Israel for Nigeria in International Humanitarian Initiative
Three fully equipped ambulances have begun their journey from the Port of Ashdod to Nigeria as part of an international humanitarian initiative involving Chabad in Nigeria, Magen David Adom France and ARIS, the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States.
The emergency vehicles, made available to the project by Magen David Adom France, are intended to strengthen medical emergency services serving communities in Nigeria. Once deployed, the ambulances are expected to help reduce emergency response times, improve the transportation of patients and injured individuals, and provide faster and more effective assistance during medical emergencies.
The operational and logistical coordination of the project was led by ChabadAid, the humanitarian arm of Chabad in Nigeria.
ChabadAid supervised the different stages of the operation, from preparing the ambulances in Israel and coordinating the necessary logistics to arranging their loading into shipping containers at the Port of Ashdod for transportation by sea to Nigeria.
The initiative was sponsored by Guy and Jacqueline Ben Soussan, prominent and active members of the Jewish community of Lille and the Hauts-de-France region.
A special ceremony was held at the Port of Ashdod as the ambulances were placed into their containers. Among those attending was H.E. Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Israel, who recently assumed her diplomatic post.
During the ceremony, the Ambassador expressed her appreciation for the initiative and for Chabad’s longstanding work in Nigeria. She highlighted its commitment both to Jewish life in the country and to humanitarian programs benefiting Nigerian society at large.
She also emphasized the importance of ChabadAid’s humanitarian activities, whose programs have already provided practical assistance to many people throughout Nigeria.
The ceremony also included the sounding of the shofar, adding a distinctive Jewish dimension to the occasion.
Travelling especially from Nigeria for the event was Rabbi Israel Uzan, Chief Rabbi of Nigeria and emissary of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
Representatives of the partner organizations were also present, including Victor Wintz and Ilan Klein of ZAKA.
Rabbi Uzan explained that the initiative also received the support of ARIS-AID, the humanitarian arm of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States (ARIS), chaired by Rabbi Mendy Chitrik.
ARIS provides support to rabbis and Jewish communities operating in Muslim-majority countries and encourages Jewish-led humanitarian initiatives designed to assist the local populations among whom those communities live.
Rabbi Israel Uzan, who is both a member of the organization and its representative in Nigeria, works within this framework to strengthen cooperation between communities and to build bridges based on mutual respect and shared responsibility.
Jewish Humanitarian Action for Nigerian Communities
The shipment of these three ambulances represents another significant stage in the work of ChabadAid, which has been active in Nigeria for more than a decade.
Its humanitarian programs serve local communities regardless of religion, ethnic background or communal affiliation.
Over the years, the organization has developed numerous initiatives that have affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of Nigerians.
These projects include the drilling of water boreholes to provide access to clean drinking water, the distribution of medical equipment, support for schools and social centers, food distribution programs, emergency assistance and initiatives aimed at helping communities affected by poverty.
The three ambulances will soon become part of these continuing efforts, providing additional resources to strengthen local emergency medical capabilities and assist people when urgent care is required.
The project also reflects a broader partnership linking Israel, France, the Jewish community and the Nigerian people around a shared humanitarian objective: saving lives, assisting those in need and strengthening bonds of solidarity and mutual responsibility.
