Most Devastating Cyclone to hit Asia since 1991

2 Life 18 Help and Rescue expresses its most heartfelt concern for all those affected in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), here are some related figures and articles:

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Up to one million people are homeless in Myanmar following the most devastating cyclone to hit Asia since 1991. 

The rising death toll from last weekend’s Cyclone Nargis now exceeds 22,000, according to government figures. Another 41,000 are still missing.

Press reports say 120-mile-per-hour winds flattened buildings and uprooted trees throughout the Irrawaddy delta. Water supplies in the country’s capital have been disrupted, and the UN estimates up to a million people are homeless.

Mercy Corps is currently working through an international partner to assist rural families in Burma, and has a robust presence throughout South Asia. The agency operates economic-development programs in neighboring India and nearby Nepal, and last November helped raise money for colleague agencies to deliver humanitarian aid when a cyclone displaced millions in Bangladesh.

From AP:

UN chief urges Myanmar to allow quick arrival of aid

By JOHN HEILPRIN – 1 hour ago

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Myanmar’s government on Wednesday to speed up the arrival of aid workers and relief supplies “in every way possible” after Cyclone Nargis left an estimated 1 million homeless.

Myanmar’s government has confirmed that nearly 23,000 people died and more than 42,000 are missing. U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes said the death toll may rise “very significantly.”

Ban welcomed news that some U.N. aid officials will be allowed into Myanmar on Thursday but is calling for other aid workers to be allowed in quickly as well, U.N. deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe said.

Four Asian members of a U.N. disaster coordination team have clearance to fly to Myanmar on Thursday. A fifth member, who is not Asian, is still trying to get a visa.

The United Nations will be issuing an emergency appeal for assistance for the cyclone victims on Friday, Holmes said, adding that he did not know how much the U.N. would be seeking.

Holmes said a U.N. plane with supplies from the U.N. warehouse in Brindisi, Italy, “will be arriving in the next couple of days and that will also take a team in.”

He said U.N. officials have been discussing access for aid workers and relief supplies “intensively with the government of Myanmar both here and in Yangon.”

“I think we are making some progress,” Holmes said. “I think we are moving in the right direction.”

But he stressed: “We have to go a lot further.”

While the U.N. and some aid agencies have staff in Myanmar, Holmes said they are not experts on coordinating an international response to disasters and emergency relief. That’s why the U.N. and the agencies need emergency relief teams to arrive quickly, he said

From US News & World Report:

Political Obstacles Slow Disaster Aid for Myanmar

The nation’s military dictators are wary of admitting foreigners to help with relief efforts

By Kevin Whitelaw

Posted May 7, 2008

Officials in Myanmar are still struggling to count the dead from a monster tropical cyclone that swept through over the weekend, but efforts to aid the survivors have been hampered by the slow response from a military junta that is notoriously suspicious of outsiders.

 

Amid estimates that the death toll from the storm topped 22,000, the government of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) said that it welcomed humanitarian aid from “friendly” countries. But aid workers had trouble getting visas to enter the country. United Nations relief officials, along with a team of U.S. disaster assessment officials, were stalled by visa delays.

Myanmar’s deep reluctance to admit the additional teams left a small number of aid workers already in the country struggling to cobble together deliveries of food and water to as many as 1 million people left homeless. “This regime is extremely paranoid and isolated and xenophobic,” says Derek Mitchell, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “The prospect of having all kinds of people from all over the world doing work they cannot really control or even monitor is troubling to them.”

The U.S. military offered to send Navy ships to aid in relief efforts. But the regime in Myanmar might not find that to be a reassuring offer, particularly after listening to years of senior U.S. officials’ condemnations of the country’s military leaders. “Even under the best of circumstances, nations that know the United States is out to get them would be suspicious,” says Mitchell.

Unsurprisingly, aid groups are reluctant to criticize Myanmar’s regime too publicly because they fear losing whatever access to the country they have been granted. But aid workers are growing increasingly worried about the delays. “Everything hinges on access,” says Greg Beck, the Asia regional director for the International Rescue Committee, a humanitarian aid group. “The international aid community needs to get staff and supplies into devastated communities rapidly if we’re going to avert further deaths.”

Maung Maung Swe, Myanmar’s minister for social welfare, said the government has a process that must be followed. “For expert teams from overseas to come here, they have to negotiate with the Foreign Ministry and our senior authorities,” he told a news conference.

But with tens of thousands of people without access to clean drinking water, food, or shelter, aid groups are worried about the scale of the disaster. “Prices of basic foods, including rice, have already doubled in the last few days, which is very worrying for a population who have already been living under precarious circumstances before the cyclone,” notes Doctors Without Borders, a humanitarian aid group with teams inside Myanmar.

Even for relief workers already stationed in the country, access to the worst-hit areas is difficult, both for assessment teams and for those bringing in relief supplies. Many of the main roads have been destroyed, and there is limited access to other means of transport.

The slow response by Myanmar’s pariah military junta is another black eye for a government recently under public scrutiny for its violent suppression of monks leading democracy protests.

A bungled response “could create new tensions and fissures” inside Myanmar, says Mitchell. “But that’s a possibility we see no evidence of yet.”

 

14 Charitable Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

 

Forget the wining and dining. Do something that matters.

by Elaine Gast

 

Like many people, I’ve had good Valentine’s Days, and…not so good. The not-so-good ones date back to middle school, when I, like many of my classmates, anxiously awaited one of those sweetheart-pink carnations from what I hoped would be a secret admirer. Much to my dismay, the carnation never came. And for years, it left me feeling downright uneasy about the 14th of February.

 

I later came to realize that Valentine’s Day is about much more than flowers and candy, or even being part of a couple. I love that there’s a day in our busy lives when we officially celebrate love. I’m not just talking romantic love, like Hallmark would have us believe, but the real-deal, universal “stuff of life” that makes up who we really are. Behind our roles and personalities and professionalism, each of us, at essence, is a living, loving being. Sure, on the other 364 days of the year we might try to fake it, but on this one day attributed to a Saint, the world agrees: Love is where it’s at. 

 

Call it spirit, call it sweetness — whatever you want to call it, we’ve all got it. It’s just a matter of what we do with it. So this Valentine’s Day, put the cupids and carnations and conversation-hearts aside. Give of yourself, your time, your heart — to people you know, and people you don’t. Share your love in small ways and big. And best of all, be generous.

 

There are plenty of ways to do good and feel good this Valentine’s Day. Here are a few. 

1.    Will You Be My…Volunteer? There’s no shortage of ways you can help. Volunteer at a local soup kitchen, animal shelter, or favorite nonprofit, or offer to tutor a child in reading or math. You can find loads of opportunities on VolunteerMatch, or check your local college campus for organized events.

2.    Put the “Fun” in Fundraising. If you’re taking that special someone out for a pricey dinner, why not have your bill go to a good cause? Check your newspaper or online city pages for Valentine-themed fundraisers that support local nonprofits. Or better yet, throw your own happy hour or party, and donate the proceeds to charity.

3.    Send Love Letters. Not just to your sweetheart, but to people and organizations that are doing good things for the world. Tell them why you respect and appreciate their work, and that they really do make a difference. If you’re feeling extra romantic, include a donation in the envelope.

 

4.    Reach Out to Those in Need. Deliver homemade Valentine’s cards or heart-shaped cookies to the sick, the elderly, the homeless — and their caregivers. Call a local children’s hospital, domestic violence shelter, or nursing home and ask how you can help. 

5.    Give Gifts That Give. There are dozens of charitable shopping sites and online nonprofit stores selling gifts for a good cause. Look for red Motorola phones, Gap T-shirts and iPods from Apple to support the Red Campaign, or try Henry’s Hearts, Greater Good, or Shop4Charity online. Sweet deal: When you make a gift donation through Save the Children, they’ll send you a free Valentine’s Day scarf and card.

6.    Remember Those Who Serve You. In the spirit of service, think of all those people who make your life easier and more convenient — every single day. Give a thank-you card to the bus driver or the barista who serves you your latte. Personally thank the janitor who keeps your office or campus clean, or the people who pick up your trash. Leave your waiter an extra tip, and smile — big — at the gas station attendant. 

 

7.    Clean Your Closets. Get a head start on spring cleaning and donate clothes, toys, furniture, household items, and old computers to nonprofits accepting them. Check your local Big Brothers Big Sisters, Salvation Army, or Goodwill Industries.   

8.    Get Your Heart Pumping. Charity walks and runs raise money for a good cause and get you moving in the great outdoors. Bring the family or your co-workers along to make it a team event. To find an event, check your local American Heart Association or your local runners’ clubs, like Road Runners.

9.    Adopt a Pet for a Day. Offer to take care of a pet for an ill or homebound neighbor. Volunteer at your local animal shelter to take the dogs for a walk. Or adopt an endangered species through the World Wildlife Fund, and you’ll get a lovable stuffed pet and adoption certificate.  

10.    Be a Fair-Trade Valentine. Buy certified fair-trade chocolate from companies that ensure that small-scale farmers receive higher and more stable prices for their cocoa. Try Divine, Theo, or the many gourmet organic bars at Equal Exchange cooperative. Or get a fair-trade Valentine’s Day Action Kit — complete with chocolates, cards, and more — at Global Exchange.

 

11.    Love the Environment. Don’t say it with flowers — unless they’re organic. Buy fresh organic blooms from your local farmer’s market, or send a bunch from Organic Bouquet, which donates 10 percent to charities like CARE, the Global Fund for Women, and the American Red Cross.

 

12.    Support Disaster Relief. Hurricane Katrina may be history by now, but the devastating effects in the Gulf region are far from forgotten. When you buy Love Letters to the South, a photography book of celebrities paying tribute to those affected by Hurricane Katrina, your purchase will help with rebuilding efforts. Proceeds support the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and Habitat for Humanity’s Operation Home Delivery.  

 

13.    Say “I Do” to Charitable Weddings.  If you’ve decided to tie the knot with that special someone, consider creating a charitable gift registry through the I Do Foundation and its many retail and nonprofit partners. 

14.    Celebrate with Small Acts of Kindness. Valentine’s Day isn’t the only holiday this week: February 12-18 is the 13th annual Random Acts of Kindness Week. What can you do? Buy coffee, lunch, or a toll payment for the person behind you in line. Tape the exact change for a soda to a vending machine. Send cards with joyful messages to strangers. Collect canned goods for a food bank. Shovel a neighbor’s driveway, or babysit — for free. Visit actsofkindness.org for hundreds of other ideas.

 

* * * * * * *

 

Based in Kula, Hawaii, Elaine Gast is a writer and communications consultant for nonprofits, foundations, membership associations, businesses, and individuals. She has authored six books, contributed to Fodor’s Travel Publications, and published articles in numerous magazines and newspapers.  Elaine is president of Four Winds Writing, Inc.

Affordable Housing New Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines

http://www.unitygno.org/

of Greater New Orleans

Working To End Homelessness, Bringing New Orleans Home

 

Welcome to UNITY HousingLink

An Affordable Housing Resource To Rebuild Our Community For the Parishes of Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines

Founded in 1992, UNITY of Greater New Orleans is an award-winning collaborative of 60 agencies. Our mission is to coordinate community partnerships to prevent, reduce, and end homelessness.

The goal of UNITY HousingLink is to assist the public to locate affordable housing as part of the rebuilding of Greater New Orleans.

For additional assistance in using this website, call UNITY Welcome Home at 504-899-4589, ext. 111 or 114 or toll-free at 888-899-4589 or e-mail 

housinglink@unitygno.org.

For more information on UNITY: www.unitygno.org 

RENTERS  Renters seeking affordable housing in the Greater New Orleans area can use this free site to locate housing that meets their needs. This site establishes a link between prospective renters and landlords and property managers that have available properties.

 

LANDLORDS/PROPERTY MANAGERS  Landlords and property managers can use this free site to advertise affordable rental properties in the Greater New Orleans area. A comprehensive description of available properties is easily entered into the site and viewed by prospective renters. Unity HousingLink has rent limits at 80% of the current area Fair Market Rent.

 

 

“Compassionate Friends” Grief Support

Grief Support After the Death of a Child

The mission of The Compassionate Friends is to assist families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child of any age and to provide information to help others be supportive.

The Compassionate Friends is a national nonprofit, self-help support organization that offers friendship, understanding, and hope to bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings. There is no religious affiliation and there are no membership dues or fees.

The secret of TCF’s success is simple: As seasoned grievers reach out to the newly bereaved, energy that has been directed inward begins to flow outward and both are helped to heal. The vision of The Compassionate Friends is that everyone who needs us will find us and everyone who finds us will be helped.

 Worldwide Candle lighting in support of a lost child 7pm around the Globe Dec 9 

The Compassionate Friends, Inc.

http://www.compassionatefriends.org/ 

 

 

Touching Family Letter from San Diego Fire Fighter

From: Paul
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 1:54 PM
To: .Vista
Subject: FW: [FamilyNews] fires

Hey folks,
Sorry I haven’t written or called but you can imagine we’ve been busy. I went to work on Sun the 21st of Oct and worked through until Oct 24th-Weds. We knew the fires were coming because the same scenario happened 4 years ago with the Cedar/Paradise fire. The fire took a new route of travel this time passing through brush that hasn’t burned in over 10 years. Since the 2003 we’ve had a big rain (lots of growth) followed by a drought (dry growth). Those in charge did an amazing job, we knew 8 hrs prior that the fire would hit Escondido. Because all our surrounding cities could be potentially affected we were limited to only our 10+/- rigs in the city. Until Mon morning when strike teams from a distance arrived (I saw rigs from as far as SF and Sacramento) we were on our own. This was my first big fire–I saw a lot of things I’ve never seen before. Some of them very impressive and others horrifying. The Santa Anna winds through Esc were between 55 and 70 MPH at various moments. Imagine winds of that force fueling fire through 10′ brush. The wind was so strong the flames didn’t burn up, they burned down wind. So…everything within reach of the super-heated smoke was being pre-heated. In flat lands this makes for a river of fire but in the hills and canyons it makes for an anomaly known as “area ignition.” It’s when an object or substance is heated so that it is just below it’s ignition temperature (the temperature in which it ignites). In an area such as a chimney (where two hills/mts butt together making a chute) the column of hot smoke fed by wind pre-heats the brush above and then when the fire gets close enough it ignites the fuel all at once. This is no big deal in a small area–10-20ft but the incredible part was when 10 acres would go off at once. It was basically a natural explosion.
The fire moved like a river. I always thought that Fire Fighters went out and battled the fire as it came upon homes–Nope. The fire was going 70MPH…70!!! We basically drove to the neighborhood that was about to get hit, parked in a safe spot, let the fire blow over us, and then rushed to put out the houses that were on fire. Things I learned: Houses don’t burn fast! Wood decks, palm trees, dry bushes and wood piles do. There were so many houses that with their tile roofs and stucco alone would have held off the fire. But an ember smoldering on an old wood porch or in a bush would catch fire and then extending under the eves and burn the house to the ground quick.
The best came out in people. We had food and an endless supply of cards and cookies daily. People actually pulled to the right when we drove through town with lights and sirens. We normally run on average 5-10 medical aids with our station’s ambulance per day (80% do not merit an ambulance). We had between 2-4 a day. People drove themselves to the ER and if it wasn’t an emergency they just dealt with it. The worst came out as well. We had 2 arson house fires in the midst of all of it. We had to pull rigs off the fire line to tend to structures in the middle of our city that were lit off by criminals. Looters, some posing as fire fighters, were breaking into homes and stealing valuables from evacuated neighborhoods. Taggers…same thing—tagged empty neighborhoods. The gang bangers in the midst of all the chaos still found time to stab 1 person and shoot 3 (one of which died).
This whole bit made me proud to be a fire fighter. I’ve never worked so much. We lost 100 homes in our city. But for every one we saved 5 and for every 3…15. If you walk around and look at the city you’ll say, “I can’t believe that one didn’t burn down…or that neighborhood.” Pretty amazing. I’m glad I was a part of it all.
So guys—thanks for your prayers-they worked. I felt alert and strong regardless of sleep. There was definite grace. I love you all. Peace

Dom

Ps forward this to anyone I missed

-Grant: congrats on the baby
-BlaBla: congrats on the job

Coping with the Fires - Jenna Druck Foundation

“Tips” for Helping Yourself and Your Kids Cope with The Fires

Dr. Ken Druck, Author, “How To Talk To Your Kids…” and Founder, The Jenna Druck Foundation

Most all San Diegans are in a state of shock about the danger, threat and loss in our community. For the past few days we have literally been under siege with wild fires. With reports of “zero containment,” the fires have been raging out of control. Both children and adults may be feeling out of control in the face of this disaster. While adults have experience to draw from and can put things into perspective, children often find themselves defenseless against fear and anxiety.

Hundreds of thousands of San Diego families have had to pack up our lives, move out of our homes with our pets and find refuge in unfamiliar surroundings. Hundreds of our neighbors have watched helplessly as their homes burned to the ground, a loss that none of us can imagine unless we have experienced it. Government officials, service organizations and professionals across San Diego, California and the nation have mobilized as never before to save the lives and homes of people in our community.

The past few days have been stressful and exhausting, not to mention frightening to adults. We are all doing our best to remain alert, stay calm and make good decisions about what is best for ourselves, our families and our community. A tragedy like this is emotionally unsettling, if not traumatic. All of us have been affected, physically and psychologically, some more than others. If you don’t feel like yourself today and/or over the next several days and weeks, you will not be alone. Feeling sad, tearful, frightened, angry, confused, helpless, disoriented, frustrated and/or numb is normal for this kind of terrifying situation. These emotions are also very common in children and there are a number of things, listed below, that we can do to help them cope.

Many among us are also experiencing a state of shock. This means we are both overwhelmed by, and in denial about, what is happening. This is also normal. In time, the shock will begin to wear off and the reality of our respective situations will set in. This is a very challenging time for us all emotionally speaking, and we need to take especially good care of our too often neglected minds and hearts. We also need to help address the needs of our children by providing comfort and assurance, keeping to their daily routines and creating “kid-friendly” opportunities for them to say what they are feeling through art, play or open conversation.

Here are a few things to consider in helping you and your kids cope with the fires and take care of your family’s mental health. Keeping these “tips” in mind will help us all best handle what has happened and what may be ahead:

Tips for Psychological Self-Help in Emergencies

There are many things we can do to help ourselves and our children in times of disaster. Helping yourself first is often the best thing you can do to be there for your children. Get your feelings out with your peers, get yourself together and then go be with your kids. Listen carefully and get a read on what they are feeling. Encourage their questions, resist quick fix answers and make it safe for them to tell you about what they are experiencing. When you respond to them, keep it simple and do your best to comfort them without resorting to false reassurances and promises. Tell them disasters are rare and unlikely but do happen once in a while.

Remember to take their age into consideration. Very young pre-schoolers cannot grasp things that Elementary or Jr. High students can. Teenagers may modulate their emotions by going into denial, acting out, getting lost in their friends and self- medicating with alcohol, drugs and/or video games. Lastly, it’s not only OK to say “I don’t know” to a child, it can be a comfort to them when you speak with honesty and ease about things you do not know. They learn to cope with uncertainty by watching you. If you sense that a child is in serious distress and may need professional help, ask for an assessment by a qualified child psychologist to determine their need.

In addition…

1) Focus on What is Being (and can be) Done
Take assurance in knowing that there are literally thousands of emergency workers doing everything humanly possible to help us get through this catastrophe with minimal loss of life and property. Explain this to your children, citing specific examples. Show them a map if that helps. Take the opportunity to explain that we cannot always control the forces of nature, just like during Hurricane Katrina, but that we are doing everything in our power to keep them safe.

Do your best to stay calm and contain your fear. The threat and actual destruction of the fires are stirring up uncomfortable emotions in all of us, especially feelings of fear, helplessness and loss. Acknowledge these feelings and do your best to contain them. Take a deep breath, calm yourself and take concrete steps to stay safe.

If there is a family pet with you, encourage your children to help care for and comfort them. Kids often reveal the scared and confused feelings they are having by projecting them onto their dog or cat. Talking about how the family pet is scared in an unfamiliar place may help you better understand how they are feeling about being away from home and not knowing what is happening. Show your child how to calm their pet by holding them, telling them they are “OK” and reassuring them that you will be there if they need you. Addressing their pet’s fears can help your child express their own feelings and feel competent in a situation that would otherwise leave them feeling helpless.

2) Make a Safety Plan
Listen to what the authorities are advising and make a safety plan for yourself and your family if you have not done so already. Having a good escape plan and an alternative living situation mind should bring back a sense of security and provide emotional relief.

The threat is very real! Please do not gamble with your safety. Do not wait until the last minute to pack up your valuables and leave. Nothing is more precious than human life. This is an opportunity to be a good example to your children and help them feel safer.

3) Maintain a Healthy Perspective
Material losses are horrible, especially when they involve our homes and irreplaceable possessions. Anybody who has not been through this cannot imagine what it is like. Grief is a natural, normal response to loss and we must allow ourselves to grieve. In the midst of these understandable feelings, however, it is important to remind ourselves that the lives of our family members and friends have been spared.

4) Stay Tuned and Take “Stress Breaks”
Stay tuned to TV, radio and computer information but take stress breaks. Make sure your children are doing the same. Walk away from the TV, take a deep breath, clear your head, play a board game, put on calming music, watch a video and “come up for air” every so often. Too many video replays of burning houses can put us on emotional overload and can be depleting and exhausting. Pace yourself. Substitute letter writing, story telling and play activities for TV news.

5) Talk to Trusted Others
Venting our feelings (including a good cry) with friends, family members and professional counselors, and doing reality checks with emergency services, like 211, will help you re-balance your emotions, make good decisions and feel assured you are doing your best to insure safety. Get the emotional support you need to get through this, and offer it to your kids and others when possible.

6) Contact Close Family and Friends
A reassuring message (preferably via e mail) to family, close friends and your fellow workers may not only prevent a lot of unnecessary worry and fear on their part, it may give you an opportunity to vent and to find out how much people really care about you.

7) Help Others in Need
Sometimes, helping others is the best way to help ourselves. We can do this by being good neighbors, sharing information and resources, coordinating our efforts to stay safe and saying a kind word wherever possible. Many who have been displaced from their homes are experiencing a level of generosity and sharing of resources that is unprecedented in San Diego’s history. Our community’s generosity of heart has opened wide. Most of all, be patient and compassionate with those who are hurting. Be a Good Citizen
Limiting cell phone activity and conserving water, electricity and gas, is supporting our community’s efforts to contain this emergency. In addition to staying off our cell phones and highways, and conserving resources, volunteer to help out where you can. Another great opportunity to demonstrate good citizenship to your children.

9) Stay Alert and Respectful.
Some of us are feeling a sense of relief as we learn some of our houses and neighborhoods have been spared. Yet many of us are still living hour to hour under the threat of loss, doing what we can to stay alert and safe, salvage our valuables and get out of harms way.

San Diego Mayor Sanders, Supervisor Roberts, The San Diego Fire Department, Police and Sheriff’s Departments, Red Cross, the military, local media, humanitarian and emergency service workers and thousands of good citizens are doing everything in their power to contain the threat and begin to address the needs hundreds of thousands of displaced San Diegans. Let’s please remain patient, compassionate, respectful, sensitive and supportive of those whose lives and homes are threatened or have been lost.

Go to http://www.howtotalktoyourkids.com/ for further information on helping children through a crisis and to order copies of Dr. Ken Druck’s book, “How To Talk To Your Kids About School Violence.”

Contact Dr. Druck at The Jenna Druck Foundation, (619) 294-8000 or visit www.jennadruck.org for more information on their Families Helping Families Program

Iraqi Children Saved by Israeli Doctors

Sky News posted some amazing photos from a surgery done by Israeli doctors from save a child’s heart. The pictures show them saving Iraqi children.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/picture_gallery/picture_gallery/0,,70141-1288560-1,00.html

Israel sends aid to hurricane victims in Nicaragua

23 Sept 2007
Israel sends medical aid to Nicaragua in the aftermath of Hurricane Felix, which has left dozens of people dead and thousands homeless
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is sending $25,000 worth of medical supplies to Nicaragua, aid to the victims of Hurricane Felix, which struck Nicaragua at the beginning of the month.
The hurricane, which hit the northern Caribbean coast of Nicaragua close to the Honduras border, left a trail of devastation and at least 40 people dead. Tens of thousands of people have been left homeless by the category five hurricane.
The International Red Cross made an appeal to the international community for help, and as a result Israel is sending medical equipment which will reach Nicaragua within a few days. The Israeli ambassador to Costa Rica and the Israeli Honorary Consul in Nicaragua will present the equipment to the representatives of the Nicaraguan government.
(Source Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Israel Offers Humanitarian Relief to Peru

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 23, 2007
Israel Offers Humanitarian Relief to Peru
Latest Mission Follows Long History of Global Aid Timeline of Israel’s Humanitarian Efforts

Israel this week sent a team of six medical personnel and airlifted almost two tons of medicine and medical equipment Monday to Pisco, Peru, to aid the victims of the earthquake that struck the country on Aug. 15. [1]  [2]  In addition, the Israeli Foreign Ministry donated $20,000 to purchase blankets and tents for the disaster victims. [3]  The 8.0-magnitude earthquake left 503 people dead and 1,042 others injured. It also destroyed 34,410 homes, leaving more than 100,000 people homeless. [4]

The six medical personnel traveled to Peru on behalf of FIRST (Fast Israel Rescue and Search Team), an umbrella organization for Israeli emergency teams, as well as IsraAID (Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid). Their trip was sponsored by two organizations, B’nai Brith International and the Israeli branch of the American Jewish Committee. [5] This is not the first time Israel has taken the initiative to help disaster victims. Israel began organizing humanitarian efforts through MASHAV, the Center for International Cooperation, [6]  10 years after the state was founded. Since then, Israel has extended humanitarian aid to more than 140 countries including Bosnia & Herzegovina,  Indonesia, Jordan, Morocco, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and Venezuela. [7]

Examples of Israel’s Humanitarian Efforts (This list is not comprehensive)
Jan. 2005: After a deadly tsunami hits Southeast Asia, Israel is one of the first nations to offer assistance, sending hundreds of thousands of dollars in aid to countries hit by the disaster and donating $100,000 to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). [8]  Israel dispatches a medical-humanitarian relief team to Thailand and $600,000 [9]  in medicine and 82 tons of humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka. The relief shipment to Sri Lanka includes medicine, water, food, baby food, blankets, tents and generators. [10]  (View Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Operations in Tsunami Disaster PowerPoint  ) Israeli organizations and companies donate 75 tons of emergency aid materials to Indonesia, a country that has no diplomatic relations with Israel. The El Al plane carrying the cargo includes equipment for emergency food kitchens to provide meals for about 4,000 people a day and medical equipment to set up a mobile clinic. Other materials donated to Indonesia include 20 tons of medicine from Teva Pharmaceuticals and 16 tons of baby food.

Jan. - Feb. 2001: A team of medical personnel, along with medicine and medical supplies, are sent to El Salvador in January after an earthquake strikes the area. In addition, Latet (”to give”), an Israeli humanitarian aid organization, distributes aid to El Salvadoran refugees and collects approximately 22 tons of clothing and blankets. The Israeli delegation assists the El Salvadoran population again in February, after a second earthquake hits a village in San Vicente. [11]

Jan. 2001: Israel, following an Indian request, sends a team of about 150 medical personnel and medical equipment to aid earthquake victims in western India. Israeli medics treat 1,211 people, assist in the delivery of 12 babies and take part in search-and-rescue efforts during their two-week stay. [12]
An Israeli doctor treating an Indian baby in
the field hospital after a 2001 earthquake.
(Photo courtesy IDF Spokesman)
April 2000: Using two Israel Air Force planes, Israel sends 30 tons in emergency aid to starving Ethiopians including medicine, food, baby food and blankets. [13]

Aug. 1999: Israel dispatches a team of 250 people, as well as rescue dogs and equipment to areas in western Turkey devastated by an earthquake that killed more than 17,000 people and injured 44,000 others. [14]  [15]  Israel also establishes a field hospital with a staff of about 100 people. The hospital includes two wards for adults and children, an intensive care unit, an operating room, a delivery room and laboratories. [16]   More than 370 patients are treated and eight babies are delivered at the hospital. [17]  Israel also rebuilds an ICU and Rehabilitation Center in Düzce, Turkey that was destroyed by the earthquake. [18]

An Israeli rescue team pulls a Turkish woman from the rubble after a 1999 earthquake.

(Photo Courtesy IsrAid.org.il)

April 1999: Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon orders the dispatch of medics and medical aid to Kosovo refugee centers and to refugees in Albania and Macedonia. [19]  The Israeli government establishes a medical field hospital, set up by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Medical Corps, in a refugee camp located in northern Macedonia. The hospital provides humanitarian aid to the Albanian refugees fleeing their homes in Kosovo. During a period of 16 days, the medical staff treats 1,560 patients and hospitalizes more than 100. [20]

Nov. 1998: Israel extends emergency aid to several Central American countries - Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala - after Hurricane Mitch, which killed more than 11,000 people, devastates the region. [21]  Israel sends medical aid teams, equipment and supplies to Honduras and Nicaragua and medical supplies to El Salvador and Guatemala. An Israeli company, Isra-Medicom, donates one-and-a-half tons of medical supplies. [22]

Aug. 1998: Israel sends a search-and-rescue team to Nairobi, Kenya, following twin terrorist bombings that left 213 people dead and more than 4,000 injured. [23]  The team includes dogs trained to find corpses and provides stretchers and specialized equipment. [24]

July 1998: Israel sends thousands of dollars in medical equipment and supplies to Albania, Moldova and Yakutia, areas affected by the fighting in Kosovo. [25]

July 1994: Israel sets up a field hospital for Rwandan refugees in Goma, Zaire. Other than the local hospital, the Israeli operating rooms are the only ones in the area. A French organization, Medecins Sans Frontieres, asks to coordinate efforts with the Israelis. [26]

1989: A six-person team is sent to treat those injured in the Ural Mountains train accident in Moscow. [27]

1989: Medical aid is sent to Romania. [28]

Dec. 1988: An Israeli medical team sets up a field hospital in Armenia and treats 2,500 people following an earthquake there. [29]

1986: After a volcanic eruption in Cameroon, in western Africa, a 16-person IDF Medical Corps team treats thousands suffering from respiratory problems and burns there. [30]

1970s: Israel grants safehaven to refugees and foreign nationals from Vietnam, Bosnia and Kosovo. [31]

Footnotes

[1] Mandel, Roi, “Israeli mission to aid Peru,” Ynetnews.com, Aug. 20, 2007, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3439964,00.html
[2] Israel sends humanitarian aid to earthquake victims in Peru,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Aug. 20, 2007, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/MFA+Spokesman/2007/Israeli+humanita
rian+aid+to+Peru+20-Aug-2007.htm
[3] “Israel extended aid to victims of the Peruvian earthquake,” The Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid, Aug. 19, 2007, http://www.israaid.org.il/story_page.asp?id=1124
[4] Chauvin/Pisco, Lucien, “Recovering from the Peru Earthquake,” TIME magazine, Aug. 20, 2007, http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1654411,00.html
[5] Mandel, Roi, “Israeli mission to aid Peru,” Ynetnews.com, Aug. 20, 2007, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3439964,00.html
[6] “Israeli Humanitarian Relief-MASHAV-the Israel Foreign Ministry Center for International Cooperation,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Oct. 1, 2002, http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/mashav%20%E2%80%93%20international%20development/activities/israeli%20humanitarian%20relief-%20mashav%20-%20the%20israel%20f
[7] “Israel Humanitarian Relief-MASHAV-the Israel Foreign Ministry Center for International Cooperation,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Oct. 1, 2002, http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/Mashav+%E2%80%93+International+Development/What+is+Mashav/Israeli+Humanitarian+Relief-+MASHAV+-+the+Israel+F.htm
[8] “Summary of Israeli assistance to the tsunami disaster victims,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Jan. 17, 2005, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/MFA+Spokesman/2005/Su
mmary+of+Israeli+assistance+to+the+tsunami+disaster+victims+17-Jan-2005.htm
[9] The Tsunami Disaster in Southeast Asia,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs Operations PowerPoint Presentation, Jan. 1, 2005, http://www.theisraelproject.org/atf/cf/{84DC5887-741E-4056-8D91-A389164BC94E}/200501MFA_ENG_TSUNAMI.PPT
[10] Ibid.
[11] “Israeli Aid to Earthquake Victims in El Salvador-January/February 2001,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, March 1, 2001, http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2001/3/Israeli
+Aid+to+Earthquake+Victims+in+El+Salvador+-.htm
[12] “Israeli Aid to Earthquake Victims in India-January 2001,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Feb. 13, 2001, http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2001/2/Israeli+Aid+to+Earthquake+Victims+in+India+-+Janua.htm
[13] “Israel Sends Emergency Aid to Ethiopia,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, April 24, 2000, http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/MFA+Spokesman/2000/Israel+Sends+Emergency+Aid+to+Ethiopia.htm
[14] “Israeli Aid for Turkish Earthquake Victims,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Aug. 18, 1999, http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/1990_1999/1999/8/Israeli+Aid+for+Turkish+Earthquake+Victims.htm
[15] “Worldwide Earthquake Relief: 2nd Anniversary of the Earthquake in Turkey,” American Red Cross, accessed Aug. 21, 2007, http://www.redcross.org/news/in/earthquakes/turkeypage.html
[16] “Israeli Aid for Turkish Earthquake Victims,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Aug. 18, 1999, http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/1990_1999/1999/8/Israeli+Aid+for+Turkish+Earthquake+Victims.htm
[17] “IDF Field Hospital in Turkey,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Aug. 24, 1999, http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/1999/IDF%20Field%20Hospital%20in%20Turkey%20-%20Update%2024-Aug-99
[18] “Israeli Humanitarian Relief-MASHAV-the Israel Foreign Ministry Center for International Cooperation,” Oct. 1, 2002, http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/mashav%20%E2%80%93%20international%20development/activities/israeli%20humanitarian%20relief-%20mashav%20-%20the%20israel%20f
[19] “Aid to Kosovo Refugees,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, April 3, 1999, http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/MFA+Spokesman/1999/Aid+to+Kosovo+Refugees.htm
[20] “Israeli Defense Forces Medical Corps humanitarian mission for Kosovo’s refugees,” NCBI-PubMed, accessed Aug. 22, 2007, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15310041&dopt=AbstractPlus
[21] “Mitch: The Deadliest Atlantic Hurricane Since 1780,” National Climactic Data Center, accessed Aug. 21, 2007, http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/reports/mitch/mitch.html
[22] “Israeli Medical Aid to Flood Victims in Central America,” Nov. 10, 1998, http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/1990_1999/1998/11/Israeli+Medical+Aid+to+Flood+Victims+in+Central+Am.htm
[23] Hirschkorn, Phil, “Embassy bombing defendants’ confessions admissible, says U.S. Judge,” CNN, Jan. 29, 2001, http://archives.cnn.com/2001/LAW/01/29/embassy.bombings.trial/index.html
[24] Vick, Karl, “149 Confirmed Dead in Embassy Blasts,” The Washington Post, Aug. 9, 1998, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/eafricabombing/stories/main080998.htm
[25] “Israel to Aid Refugees in Kosovo, Moldova and Yakutia,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, July 8, 1998, http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/About%20the%20Ministry/MFA%20Spokesman/1998/Israel%20to%20Aid%20Refugees%20in%20Kosovo-%20Moldova%20and%20Yaku
[26] “Israeli Medical Aid for Rwandan Refugees in Zaire,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, July 26, 1994, http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/MFA+Spokesman/1994/ISRAELI
+MEDICAL+AID+FOR+RWANDAN+REFUGEES+IN+ZAIRE.htm  
[27] Ibid.
[28] Ibid.
[29] Ibid.
[30] Ibid.
[31] “Israeli Humanitarian Relief-MASHAV-the Israel Foreign Ministry Center for International Cooperation,” Oct. 1, 2002, http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/mashav%20%E2%
80%93%20international%20development/activities/israeli%20humanitarian%20relief-%20mashav%20-%20the%20israel%20f

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