Israeli Voluntary Aid Organizations - IsraAID

The Israel Forum for International Aid, or “IsraAID”, is an Israeli-based umbrella organization that was created in 2001 by Shachar Zahavi which brings together over 35 Israeli and Jewish non-governmental organizations around the world. According the IsraAid website, “IsraAID's members believe in providing humanitarian aid worldwide to people in need, regardless of religion, race, gender, nationality, age and disabilities.” The goal of IsraAID, in similar fashion to LATET, is to encourage and coordinate relief efforts by its partnering organizations, the difference being that IsraAID focuses on international aid and global issues.

Member organizations include:

First Steps:

By January 1st 2005, IsraAID had coordinated a relief effort whereby drop-off points were established throughout Israel in order to accept donations of food and other basic supplies. The following day, 4,000 Magen David Adom volunteers stood in supermarkets across Israel and encouraged Israelis to donate food items. This was meant to be a two-day drive, but after just the first day, Israelis had donated 2.5 tons of flour, 4 tons of rice, 920 liters of oil, 2.5 tons of sugar, 1.5 tons of plain pasta, 39,000 liters of mineral water, 900 kilos of dried beans and 700 kilos of jams and canned foods. With the donations piling up, the decision was made to extend the drive for an additional two days. At the end of the four days, the 4,000 volunteers had collected hundreds of tons of food and water, and on January 7th, a ship donated for the purpose brought the food and water to Sri Lanka for distribution in coordination with the Red Cross.

Sri Lanka aid program:

IsraAID planned immediately for the medium and long term, too. On January 9th, 14 aid workers were sent to the southernmost city of Sri Lanka, Matara, to assist in relief efforts there. IsraAID organized a three-pronged approach: a field hospital which will specialize in pediatrics and infectious diseases, a feeding station with three kitchens to prepare all the raw food being donated, and a facility for orphaned and lost children, where they can receive care, attention, and protection. Because of the broad range of organizations being coordinated by IsraAID, a unique situation is being created on the ground, where one group alone takes care of procuring donations of supplies, transporting the donations to Sri Lanka, distributing the donations, and cooking the donated food, while simultaneously providing desperately needed medical and psychological attention.

IsraAID has also set up an emergency fund for relief efforts for the survivors of the tsunami:
SOUTH EAST ASIA RELIEF FUND
(c/o The National Council for Voluntarism in Israel)
Account Number 12999/28
Branch 817
Bank Leumi Ha' Chashmonaim
Tel Aviv, Israel

Or simply send a check to:
SOUTH EAST ASIA RELIEF FUND
(c/o The National Council for Voluntarism in Israel)
P.O.B. 36259, TEL-AVIV 61362, ISRAEL
Credit Card donations can be made at: http://www.topaz-int.org/topaz/tsunami/

Links

IsraAid, the Israeli Forum for International Humanitarian Aid
http://www.israaid.org.il/default.asp

Interview with IsraAid founder, Shachar Zahavi:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/
Printer&cid=1104895130589&p=1006953079845

IsraAid sends 14 aid workers to set up field hospital and 3 kitchens
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/
Printer&cid=1105240989636&p=1078027574097

IsraAid's three pronged service:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/
Printer&cid=1105418783185&p=1078113566627

Meir Panim – Power of Giving: dual organization with soup kitchens and collections for Israeli needy. MP-PG has organized aid packages for the tsunami victims:
http://www.mifalchaim.org/image/news/2004/news9_ext_e.htm#113

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