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Israel among first to offer aid to Haitians |
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Written by --
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Wednesday, 20 January 2010 |
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PORT AU PRINCE-TEL AVIV – The tiny Jewish state was among the first to provide critical assistance to earthquake-ravaged Haiti, where the death toll is estimated at more than 70,000.
Israel’s contributions include a field hospital – the only hospital in operation, with 40 doctors, 25 nurses, paramedics, a pharmacy, a children’s war, a radiology department, an intensive care unit, an emergency room, two operating rooms, a surgical department, an internal department and a maternity ward. On Monday an additional IDF rescue and medical aid team – including Home Front Command Maj. Gen. Yair Golan, Director-General of the Ministry of Health Dr. Eytan Chai-Am and Surgeion General Brig. Gen. Nachman Ash – joined the Israelis in Haiti, delivering relief reinforcements and additional equipment while assessing the medical needs. As of Monday, the hospital carried out 25 life-saving surgeries and delivered three babies.
A search-and-rescue team has rescued several people from under the rubble.
Last week El Al Israel Airlines, responding to the request of the ministry of defence, sent two planeloads of medical and rescue supplies. The airline sent two additional aircraft: a Boeing 777 carrying eight tons of supplies and 220 passengers, among them rescue and medical teams, and a Boeing 747-400 carrying 68 tons of supplies.
Rabbi Benjamin Blech, professor of Talmud at Yeshiva University as well as a prolific author and popular speaker, commented on Aish.com:
“Having served as the scapegoats of history, Jews are no longer amazed when they are blamed for almost any misfortune, including even natural disasters. But what often escapes recognition is the other event that invariably follows a tragedy on the scale of a tsunami or an earthquake, be it anywhere on earth: the certainty that the state of Israel will reach out to give aid and assistance, to stretch out its hands in humanitarian spirit whether this help is appreciated or even acknowledged.”
“It is unconscionable that a time of great suffering in Haiti, the Muslim world as a totality is missing from the scene,” said B’nai Brith Canada CEO Frank Dimant. “No first front-line aid, no medical hospitals, no special army units to help save lives. One must wonder how some of the weathiest countries in the world can live with their consciences while this tragedy unfolds.”
Saudi Arabia, one of the richest countries in the world, sent a message of condolence to the Haitian president. Kuwait and Morocco together pledged $1 million and the United Arab Emirates declared it would “shortly” send a plane with humanitarian assistance. Qatar, which has the third-largest gas reserves and second-highest GDP per capita in the world, has dispatched 50 metric tons of aid.
– With files from Arutz-7. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 27 January 2010 )
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