67,000 died in Tsunami
so far. It will likely be more. How do you measure a disaster this large?
Previously the U.S. pledged a paltry 15 million. The upped it today to
$35 million dollars. If you think that is a lot, consider George W. Bush
is going to spend that much on his inauguration. And consider also that
this administration spends that much in Iraq every four hours.
Don't you think this deserves a little more of your time than ranting and
raving against Israel?
---------------------
Israeli doctors were among the first foreign medical personnel to reach
Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Sunday's devastating tsunami that left
thousands dead in that country alone.
The the Israeli government sent a small number of Israel Defense Forces
personnel to accompany an 82-ton planeload of relief supplies, including
medicine, water, food, blankets, tents, nylon sheeting and electric
generators. A plane that left overnight Tuesday to Sri Lanka contained
10,000 blankets, 3680 liters of mineral water, 12 tons of food, 17.5 tons
of baby food, and over nine tons of medicine.
Another Israeli medical mission - this one to Thailand - was dispatched by
the Ministry of Health on Monday, and headed by its associate
director-general Boaz Lev.
"We were asked to come by the government of Thailand," Lev told Israeli
television, "and we were warmly welcomed. We'll stay here as long as we're
needed," he said.
The IDF has also offered to send India food and medical supplies as well
as a search-and-rescue team from the Home Front Command.
Israel's many non-governmental humanitarian organizations have also
stepped in to help.
The Israeli humanitarian aid organization LaTet ("To Give") sent a jumbo
plane to Sri Lanka with 18 tons of equipment - at the request of Sri
Lanka. The organization is also sending an aid delegation to Thailand.
Magen David Adom, Israel's emergency medical service, is sending medical
personnel and relief aid to Sri Lanka in coordination with the Red Cross.
Dr. Efraim Laor, chairman of Fast Israeli Rescue and Search Team
(F.I.R.S.T.) is heading a search and rescue mission to Tamil Nadu, India.
Laor is also chairman of the national steering committee for earthquakes
in Israel. F.I.R.S.T. has conducted over 2,800 search and rescue
operations in Israel and around the world, including Turkey, India,
Mexico, El-Salvador, Greece, Armenia and New Guinea.
IsraAID, the Israel forum for international humanitarian aid, is
coordinating efforts of many of the Israeli and Jewish relief
organizations, including Magen David Adom and F.I.R.S.T. as well as the
American Jewish Committee, B'nai B'rith International; Ve'ahavta: The
Canadian Jewish Humanitarian and Relief Committee; The National Council
for Voluntarism in Israel and others.
Israel has a long history of providing emergency aid to disaster-hit areas
of the world, dating back to 1953 - just 5 years after independence - when
the nascent state sent navy personnel to help Greece following a severe
earthquake. Since then, Israeli medical, army and humanitarian aid
personnel have become prominent partners in virtually all international
relief efforts.
The National Council for Voluntarism in Israel has opened a crisis fund to
help send more Israeli relief teams to assist victims in South East Asia.
East Asia Relief Fund
The National Council for Voluntarism in Israel
Account Number 12999/28 Branch 817 Bank Leumi Ha'Chashmonaim, Tel Aviv.
--------------
And how much and how many disaster relief teams have been sent from Egype,
Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia?
NONE......
Hank
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