In the wake of the catastrophic Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti, Israeli and Jewish humanitarian aid groups are providing critical relief for that nation. Meanwhile, four Israelis in Haiti are reported missing.
Relief delegations from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Home Front Command, IDF Medical Corps and the Israeli Foreign Ministry have left for the ravaged island nation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed officials from the Defense Ministry, Foreign Ministry, and Public Security Ministry to quickly formulate actions plans to assist Haiti.
Other Israeli humanitarian relief organizations sending aid include IsraAID (the Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid), which is planning to send a 12-person team with expertise in recovery, medical assistance and structural engineering.
Said Jonathan Peled, spokesman for the Embassy of Israel in Washington, "Our heart goes out to the people of Haiti. Israel is sending a rescue team, a field hospital and humanitarian aid as part of the international effort to assist the recovery efforts. In the past, Israel has assisted recovery operations in Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, and India, among other countries devastated by earthquakes."
U.S.-based Jewish groups such as the American Jewish World Service, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and B’nai B’rith have set up relief funds and are collecting donations to be sent to Haiti.
