Updates

Tsunami Relief Appeal Day & long-term assistance

Today, Tuesday 1st February 2005, is an appeal day in Israel to raise funds for ongoing and long term assistance and rehabilitation aid for the Tsunami victims and their communities. The campaign is being covered and promoted by Israel Radio, IDF radion (Galei Tzahal), TV Channel 10 and all news channels and broadcasts, with live interviews and reports from Sri Lanka, Thailand and afflicted areas.
Israel Embarks on Long Term Tsunami Aid Campaign [Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Israel Consulate NY notice]

President Moshe Katsav has called on all Israeli citizens to join in the campaign for long-term humanitarian aid for the victims of the tsunami disaster, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. At a ceremony at Beit Hanassi on Sunday, Katsav urged all Israelis to contribute to the Israel National Emergency Coalition's nationwide fundraising drive, which is to be launched on Tuesday. "We are obligated to fulfill this humanitarian mission and in doing so, demonstrate that we are indeed a light unto the nations," Katsav said. "We, the children of the Jewish people who have witnessed so many hardships in our own history, do not have the right to deny assistance when we see the recurring scenes of tragedy that are the outcome of the tsunami disaster," Katsav stressed. He expressed pride in the fact that so many Israeli institutions, organizations and individuals had instantly undertaken to help on the first day of the calamity, which has claimed close to 300,000 lives.

"The government and people of Sri Lanka are grateful to the government and people of Israel for their spontaneous and generous assistance," declared Sri Lankan Ambassador Tissa Wijeratne at the ceremony. Acting Indian Ambassador Satish Mehta noted the "unprecedented international solidarity" in providing much-needed relief. This was a "manifestation of the international community's shared pain and responsibility," he said, adding that the work of Israeli volunteer organizations needed to be applauded. Thai Ambassador Kasivat Paruggamanont commented that in good times Thailand was a favorite destination for Israelis, "and in the darkest days," he said, "you stood beside [us] offering a helping hand."

IsraAID Relief Team Commemorates with Locals 30 Days to Tsunami
For Immediate Release: January 25, 2005, by IsraAID (www.israaid.org.il)

Tomorrow the members of the IsraAID’s relief team on the ground in Sri Lanka, in collaboration with local NGOs, schools and the affected communities in the southern city of Balapitiyia and the surrounding district, will be commemorating 30 days since the tsunami hit South East Asia killing over 200,000 people.

As part of its PSTD program, the Israeli team is working with hundreds of school children and the local community in preparing a special monument that will be erected on the beach that took tens of thousands of lives.

The team also started a new morning program in local schools for mothers and children aged 3 – 5 and 6 – 12 in collaboration with the teachers and a local aid group called ‘Pomitario’.

In addition the IsraAID team is providing its expertise in PSTD in local IDP camps, which are managed by international NGO’s such as Goal. This contribution to the survivors' wellbing has been highly welcomed by these aid agencies.

Relief items are still distributed as well as new plans being built to start rehabilitation of schools and houses. Helping restore people’s lives and provide them with basic materials so they can return to work (fishing boats etc…) is one of the top priorities of the aid agencies in the field.

For more information please contact Shachar Zahavi at szahavi@hotmail.com