Israel Blesses Haiti

March 31, 2010

After the 7-magnitude earthquake hit Haiti on January 12, a delegation of more than 240 Israelis flew 16 hours to the most impoverished nation in the Western Hemisphere, arriving on the 15th. They set up the first and largest field hospital in the devastated area, capable of treating up to 500 patients. The only one for five days, it quickly became the most advanced hospital in Haiti, including a pediatric ward, a radiology department, an ICU, an ER, two operating rooms, and a surgical department, as well as a medical lab, X-ray center, and pharmacy.

Dr. Ian Miskin, one of the first to arrive, told ISRAEL21c it was like nothing he had seen before. “We often didn’t have five free minutes…We just worked until we dropped.” They soon realized they couldn’t treat everyone, so they set up an ad-hoc, three-doctor ethics committee to make life-and-death decisions.

A Joint Effort

According to a Jerusalem Post article, “Israel provides more per capita than any other nation in the world” in humanitarian aid. Israel’s Ministry of Health estimated that they contributed about US $2 million for Haiti. This was a huge logistical team effort including IsraAID, ZAKA, Magen David Adom (Israel’s Red Cross), the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Home Front Command, police, the foreign affairs staff, and more.

Though ZAKA is primarily a non-governmental organization that is usually the first to arrive at tragic accidents, such as suicide bombings, in Israel, their International Rescue Unit was the first Israeli team to arrive in Haiti. Ynetnews reported that Mati Goldstein, head of the ZAKA team, wrote, “The pressure was enormous. We could hear the cries of people trapped but we were digging and digging and couldn’t see them.” However, 38 hours later, they helped rescue eight students from the rubble. “Everywhere, the acrid smell of bodies hangs in the air. It’s just like the stories we are told of the Holocaust—thousands of bodies everywhere,” wrote Goldstein.

IsraAID, a body of over 35 Israeli and Jewish organizations that provide humanitarian aid worldwide, was not only one of the first teams to arrive, but weeks later set up the first Child Education Center in the largest refugee camp. The tents allow for 250 children at one time where they participate in learning activities.

The IDF flew on January 15 and set up the field hospital in a mere ten hours, and by the time they left on January 27, they had treated 960 patients, conducted around 300 surgeries, and delivered more than a dozen babies. Their Search and Rescue team rescued or assisted in the rescue of four individuals. ISRAEL21c wrote that they also established a fully functional communications center.

In spite of praise received worldwide, some chose to downplay and even scorn Israel’s good deeds in Haiti. In response, Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy spokesman Andy David told Bridges for Peace, “I think the main satisfaction for every Jew is to know that we saved even one life; we say, ‘We save one life, it’s like you save the whole world.’ It’s the moral compass that leads us; it’s our moral values; it’s our tradition. That’s who we are.”

Christians Join In Too

Two days after the earthquake, BFP CEO Rebecca Brimmer was on the phone with Israel’s surgeon general, as well as a ZAKA representative, telling her about the plans Israel had to help Haiti and the estimated costs. She assured them that Christians would want to help. After a plea went out via e-mail to over 11,000 BFP supporters on January 14, funds began to pour in. As of press time for this Dispatch, BFP lovers of Israel had raised US $60,000!

ZAKA responded with warm thanks: “For the ZAKA volunteers to carry out their holy work, we rely on the support of our Christian and Jewish friends around the world so that we can continue our life-saving rescue and recovery operation in Haiti as long as we are needed. This is a humanitarian endeavor that unites us all, Jews and Christians, throughout the world.” This joint effort also fulfilled the BFP mission statement of “supporting Israel and building relationships between Christians and Jews…” We were happy to help Israel fulfill their God-ordained calling to bless the nations.

By Charleeda Sprinkle, Assistant Editor

Photo Credit: Al Photos by Isranet