Israel joins other countries in sending aid to Haiti

The disaster that has befallen the people of Haiti is difficult to imagine. Hundreds of thousands have died, and the government appears to be incompetent, prompting citizens to pile up corpses on the streets in protest. Israel, along with other Western countries (but so far no Arab countries) has sent aid to the scene. An announcement by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs about Israel aid to Haiti tells us 

The relief package, which was sent on two Boeing-747 jets, includes a Home Front Command field hospital and rescue unit, as well as teams from Magen David Adom and Israel Police.

 

Israel wishes to express its solidarity with the Government and people of Haiti during this great disaster. We send our condolences to the families of the casualties, and wish the injured a speedy recovery.

 

Israel is doing all in its power to help the people of Haiti cope with the disaster in their country. A 220-person delegation, headed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, will leave this evening (Thursday, 14 January 2009) for Port-Au-Prince on two Boeing 747 jets leased from El Al by the IDF. The relief package includes a Home Front Command field hospital and rescue unit, as well as teams from Magen David Adom and Israel Police.

 

Israel's ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Amos Radian, is currently in Port-Au-Prince, where he is coordinating Israel's contribution with local authorities and international aid agencies.

The Israeli ambassador to the Dominican Republic, as noted above, is in Haiti and reported: 

 

"There is a strange silence in the streets. "Thousands of people are walking around aimlessly. As of yet, there is no one around to provide a solution to this catastrophe."

...

"I don't think anyone can gauge the number of casualties in this earthquake. It would be very difficult to know how many people have been affected, and many will remain trapped under the rubble for many days. I've heard forecasts suggesting that the situation will only get worse in the coming days. There are dozens of bodies piled up at every street corner. It is a difficult sight."

While searching for a place to spend the night, Radian and the Israeli embassy security coordinator arrived at a small hotel, which turned out to be non-functional. "Hundreds of homeless people and injured people sat in front of the hotel and begged to be let in," Radian said. He left the area and continued to the American embassy, which Radian described as an "oasis of sanity" in the hell that is the Haitian capital. "We slept on benches in the American embassy," Radian said. "This is a safe haven and all the foreign diplomats in the city came there, including the Spanish ambassador whose embassy was destroyed, and he was hurt."

"There is unbelievable difficulty because anarchy abounds. "No one knows who is running this country and in the absence of authority, the U.S. has taken command."

"The United Nations force is not functioning, as many of its commanders were killed when the UN headquarters building collapsed. The law enforcement system as collapsed and police officers have not shown up at the stations. The Americans are starting to secure central facilities."

Even though thousands of people are still trapped under the rubble, at this time no rescue efforts have been undertaken in Port Au Prince. "With a pretty heavy heart I tell you that the individual assistance provided to the citizens is very difficult," Radian remarked. "There are no search and rescue teams because the local authorities do not exist."

Alongside the communication lines and other necessary infrastructure, hospitals have also shut down. Argentina and France have already set up a two small temporary hospitals, and the Israeli delegation will set up another one after its arrival. "I haven't seen a single ambulance or a single rescue mission," Radian said. "The situation is grim."

"Those attending to the injured and the dead are their own family members," he concluded.

Ami Isseroff
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