Following medical emergencies and disasters worldwide, at the request of national partners, medical response teams are sent to provide basic medical treatment (in conjunction with radio plants whenever possible). The goal is to respond to disasters within two weeks, bringing aid to countries that are not able to mount an adequate response to the people’s healthcare needs.

HCJB Global Hands has responded to several recent emergency situations:

• March 2005: Indonesia (following tsunami on Dec. 24, 2004 and earthquake on Nias Island on March 28, 2005).
• October 2005: Pakistan (following earthquake on Oct. 8, 2005).
• July 2006: Ecuador (following eruption of Mt. Tungurahua in central Ecuador on July 14, 2006).
• November 2006: Lebanon (all-female team aided victims following fighting between Hezbollah and Israel in the summer of 2006).
• April 2007: Solomon Islands (following tsunami on April 2, 2007).
• August 2007: Peru (following 8.0-force earthquake on Aug. 15, 2007).
• November 2007: Mexico (following flooding that began in southern Mexico’s Tabasco state in early November 2007).
• March-May 2008: Ecuador (six weeklong teams from within Ecuador helped following coastal flooding that began in February 2008).