Milestone: Stronghold's 1000th Ambulance Trip
A Stronghold patient recovering at a field hospital in Burma. (©️ 2025, Stronghold Rescue and Relief)
In June 2025, Stronghold Rescue & Relief reached an important milestone: our 1,000th ambulance mission. Since our first transport, we’ve carried over 1,500 patients to field clinics and hospitals—many of whom would not have reached care without it.
It all started in 2022. Our founder, Ephraim Mattos, helped transport a pregnant woman with complications to a hospital in the back of a local truck. At the time, there were no reliable ways to get patients to critically needed medical care. That moment sparked what would become Stronghold’s ambulance program in Burma.
A Stronghold medic prepares a patient for transport, carefully loading them into an ambulance for the long journey to the nearest field hospital. (©️ 2025, Stronghold Rescue and Relief)
Today, our ambulances in Burma run day and night, bringing the wounded, the sick, and those in urgent need to safety and care. But transportation alone isn't enough in the remote areas where we work. That’s why Stronghold is also building roads and bridges. This not only helps our ambulances reach more patients but also gives communities access to markets, schools, and hospitals on their own. In some areas, a bridge makes the difference between isolation and survival.
As our operations expand across Burma, so does the need. Conflict and displacement have left many communities cut off from even the most basic services. Our growing network of ambulances, roads, and bridges are reconnecting these regions—both medically and physically.
A Stronghold vehicle in Burma, camouflaged with mud during field operations. Our trucks have been targeted by Burma Army aircraft in the past. (©️ 2025, Stronghold Rescue and Relief)
Thanks to your continued support, Stronghold is able to provide not just emergency care, but also the infrastructure that helps communities rebuild and regain independence. This mission only moves forward because of people like you.
Every mile we travel and every patient we reach is only possible because you choose to stand with us.
Thank you to everyone for supporting Stronghold and making our life-saving work possible.