Israel Shares Trauma and Emergency Response Expertise with Nepal

Kathmandu, 19 February 2026 — The Embassy of Israel in Nepal facilitated the visit of Prof. Dr. Avraham Rivkind, an Israel Prize laureate and internationally recognized expert in trauma and emergency medicine, from 16–18 February 2026. The three-day visit highlighted the shared interest of Nepal and Israel in strengthening professional collaboration and advancing knowledge exchange in emergency and trauma care.

During his intensive program, Prof. Rivkind engaged with leading hospitals and healthcare professionals, sharing Israel’s experience in trauma care, mass-casualty management, and disaster response. Ms. Janan Bebar, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Israel in Nepal, accompanied him throughout the meetings and professional interactions.

Prof. Rivkind delivered high-level lectures and held discussions at Bir Hospital and the National Trauma Center, where he shared practical insights drawn from Israel’s extensive experience in managing complex emergencies. He also met with senior executives and physicians from other medical institutions.

At Dhulikhel Hospital Kathmandu University Hospital, he addressed medical professionals and students, focusing on trauma systems development and emergency preparedness. In addition, he conducted a nationwide virtual session connecting healthcare professionals across Nepal. He also toured Patan Hospital as part of his visit.

As part of his official engagements, Prof. Rivkind visited the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, where he met with the Chief Executive and senior officials to discuss strengthening disaster preparedness and response mechanisms. He also interacted with consular representatives from various embassies in Nepal to exchange best practices on managing consular affairs during emergencies.

The trauma expert met with Hon. Sunita Dangol, Acting Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, and Hon. Dr. Anjan Shakya, Member of the National Assembly and former Ambassador of Nepal to Israel, along with other distinguished dignitaries. Discussions centered on prospects for future medical cooperation between the two countries.

Looking ahead, Prof. Rivkind expressed his strong interest in supporting Nepal’s pre-hospital emergency response system by introducing bike-ambulances operated by trained volunteers or first responders. Equipped with pagers, these responders would receive initial alerts about illnesses or accidents and provide immediate life-saving care on-site before the arrival of ambulances.

The Ambassador of Israel to Nepal, Shmulik Arie Bass, stated that Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated cooperation in trauma and related fields to further strengthen bilateral relations between Israel and Nepal.

Prof. Rivkind’s visit reflects Israel’s continued commitment to supporting Nepal in enhancing trauma care, emergency preparedness, and disaster response capacity.

According to the Embassy, Prof. Rivkind had previously traveled to Nepal during the Annapurna avalanche, assisting in the evacuation of victims and treating patients alongside Nepali doctors.

Following the devastating 2015 Gorkha Earthquake, Israel deployed a fully operational field hospital within three days, staffed by 260 military medical personnel. The facility treated approximately 2,000 patients and performed more than 70 life-saving surgeries, making it one of the largest medical delegations sent to Nepal in response to the disaster.