WE FOLLOW A DEDICATED TEAM OF DOCTORS, NURSES, RESCUE WORKERS AND LOGISTICIANS ACROSS THE WORLD. COMMITTED TO HELPING THE VICTIMS OF WAR, FROM THE FRONT LINE TO THE DISTANT SHORES WHERE INNOCENT CIVILIANS ARE DISPLACED AND LOOKING FOR REFUGE
The decision to make a difference
Beyond the Beach explores the meaning of the victims of war through the voices of the men and women of Emergency’s committed staff. A passionate group of individuals, doctors, nurses, surgeons and logisticians have dedicated their lives to help the millions of innocent families suffering the devastating repercussions of war, we discover the positive impact achieved from their individual experiences through the remarkable power of choice to opt in and make a difference, one person at a time.
Who are the victims of war?
The cost of war on innocent people runs deep, from immediate death, dismemberment and injury, through to dire situations in which families suffer escaping impending danger, kidnapping and death. With no home, no hope and no options left, every day people are driven to extraordinary extremes risking life and limb to give their children an opportunity for a better future. At every step of the way Emergency provide high quality health care where circumstances have put even the simplest of services out of reach.
GIULIA PEDRONI
Giulia grew up in Italy where she trained to become a nurse. She began her career with Emergency working in war surgeries in Iraq, since then she has served as a Head Nurse to Emergency’s primary healthcare clinics in some of Iraqs biggest IDP and refugee camps.
GINO STRADA
Gino founded Emergency in 1994 after working as a war surgeon for the Red Cross. He strongly believes that high quality healthcare should be a human right, no matter where you were born, your beliefs or socio-economic status. Since 1994 Emergency has treated over 10 million people.
MURAD SALIH
Murad and his family lived in a Yazidi community in Sinjar when ISIS attacked. He fled to an IDP camp in Sulaymaniyah with his wife and three small children where they remain to this day, living in a tent for over 3 years. Murad found a job working for the Primary Healthcare clinic in his IDP camp as a logistician.
ALBERTO GRASSI
Having worked in big hospitals in Italy, Alberto decided on a lifestyle change. He signed up to work with Emergency as a doctor on board a MOAS ship that travelled on the Mediterranean from Italy to the Libyan territorial waters, picking up as many migrant boats as possible. His work helped to save thousands of innocent people.
YOHANES GHEBRAYTSEGAY
Yohanes was born in Eritrea. In 2005 he decided to flee his country, travelling days for days through Sudan and on to Libya, where he was imprisoned before finally getting an opportunity to cross the Mediterranean Sea in a small rubber boat with many other migrants in search of freedom. Once he arrived in Italy he signed up to work with Emergency as a cultural mediator on the MOAS boats so he could return to the sea and rescue his brothers.
GIORGIA NOVELLO
Giorgia works as a medical coordinator for Emergency. She worked in Kabul at the Surgical Centre for Victims of War for 9 years where she lead her team of medical staff, aiding everyone and anyone who came to the Emergency hospital needing help. This involved coordinating highly skilled international doctors and nurses as well as local Afghan staff with limited English speaking abilities.
DEJAN PANIC
Dejan grew up in Serbia and works as the Program Coordinator in Emergency’s Surgical Centre for Victims of War in Kabul, Afghanistan. Each day Dejan deals with a new challenge. No matter how prepared you are, something can always shock you, even with his many years of experience working on the front line. The work he does in Kabul has saved thousands of lives over many years.
JIM SNEDDEN
Jim Snedden works for the Scottish Fire and Rescue service near his home in Dunblane, Scotland, where he has been a key member for 16 years. Over the past 5 years he has been working with MOAS as a rescue diver and performing boat and water rescues during his time off.
GIACOMO MENDALO
Giacomo was a hospital software engineer in Italy before he found Emergency. Hearing about their work from a friend, he signed up to be a logistician administrator and has worked with the NGO for five years, now as a Program Manager, working in Afghanistan, Iraq and Sudan. Doing a job that made him feel useful and that he was directly helping people was important to Giacomo, creating a better world step-by-step is his motivation.
EDWARD ABAD
Edward is from the Philippines and worked for MOAS as Master of the Vessel, overall in charge of the ship, crew and cargo on the MOAS Topaz Responder during the time Beyond the Beach was being filmed. His years of experience on the water lead him to this specific line of work where he could have the opportunity to help those in desperate need, facilitating their journey to safety. Edward’s main responsibility is to watch for migrant boats using specialist equipment and radar. Together with the rest of the MOAS team he has saved thousands of people from the sea.
TIJANA MARICIC
Tijana was 10 years old when the war started in Serbia, so from an early age she has seen people escaping from war. This powered her search for a line of work where she could help those who are suffering, hence she found Emergency. Trained as a paediatric nurse, she worked in Afghanistan and Sudan with Emergency before joining the team on the Mediterranean saving migrants. She is passionate about the fight against war.
JOHN HAMILTON
John is from Malta and acts as the search and rescue operations officer onboard the MOAS Topaz Responder. An ex-member of the armed forces of Malta, he has been working on the maritime section for nearly 20 years, since the migrant landings in Malta in the late 90s. As the number of migrants crossing has increased, John’s work continues. He has successfully completed numerous rescues and saved thousands of lives.