Stronghold assists Karen people in Burma
Helping the Karen people
As part of Stronghold’s effort to empower the Karen people in Burma, our team helped set up an ambulance service. It includes three truck ambulances and one boat ambulance.
In the last few months of its existence and upkeep, Stronghold’s ambulance has given the Karen people a life-saving resource for both civilians and defenders as they resist the violent tyranny of the Burma Army.
From mortars to landmines, the Karen people of Burma must expect the unexpected strikes on their villages.
Stronghold’s ambulance service cuts down vital hours of transport time to get patients to the clinical care that will save their lives — from women in labor, to pro-democracy Karen defenders.
In the clip below, Stronghold founder and CEO Ephraim Mattos briefly describes the early origin of the Burma ambulance on Andy Stumpf’s Cleared Hot podcast in 2023.
Following our “Charity With Dignity” model, Stronghold continues to empower locals to provide aid and protect their own people with medical training and improved communication.
And the ambulance system we’ve set up is just one more resource to strengthen the Karen people’s courageous resistance.
Here are some of the Karen defenders that Stronghold’s ambulance has helped stabilize and transport:
A Karen amputee on a Stronghold Skedco litter.
A wounded Karen defender on a Skedco litter, heading to the Stronghold ambulance truck.
A wounded Karen defender on a Skedco, to be loaded on the Stronghold ambulance boat.
Karen patients are stabilized on Stronghold’s ambulance boats and receive life-saving care during the trip across the massive lake.
The care and aid we can give the Karen people who face and resist oppression is all possible because of our generous supporters.
Right now, you are helping us save lives.
Thank you.