PHOTOS: Holocaust Survivors Depart Kishinev Amid War Fears In Moldova

KISHINEV (VINnews) — Against the backdrop of the fear of the war escalating into Moldova, a flight full of Holocaust survivor refugees departed from Kishinev.

In light of the escalation of tensions in the separatist Transnistria region of eastern Moldova and the security concerns that have been heightened there in recent weeks, the Jewish community in Moldova decided to secure an emergency flight to rescue elderly Holocaust survivors and those wounded from the war in Ukraine.

The rescue flight took off from Kishinev. It was organized by: Chabad and the Moldova Jewish community (led by Rabbi Zushe Abelsky) and Yad Yisroel led by reb Moshe Fimah, ZAKA, which sent special commanders Chaim Otmezgin and Nachman Dickstein (the organization’s deputy commander in Ukraine),the Fellowship, the Jewish Agency, Or Avner, and JDC.

The immigrants made their way to Israel on a charter flight that was hired specifically for this purpose, and they have ID cards that have already been issued in Kishinev. They are due to arrive in Israel as early as tonight.

Rabbi Mendy Axelrod, a Chabad Rabbi in Moldova who was able to put on tefillin with a Holocaust survivor for the first time in his life, said “for weeks we have been treating wounded Holocaust survivors who came as refugees from the war in Ukraine. We gave them the most dedicated care, hot food and medicine and I am so glad that they will not start a new life in the Holy Land. I want to thank all those who are involved in this sacred work.”

This operation is part of a large mission to evacuate the wounded and holocuast survivors from Ukraine. This is the lifeline for cities such as Mariupol, Kyiv, Kharkiv and Kherson – the only organization sending in medical personnel in the line of fire.

Once brought to safety,Moldova triage centers have been set up to treat them until they can be transported to their next destination.

Once ready for transport, they are transported to Israel or other countries for further care.

ZAKA Director General Dubi Wiesenstern added: “This is a complex operation, one of several, that we are carrying out with a medical team that includes a doctor in order to provide these Holocaust survivors with the best conditions until they arrive in Israel.”