Overview

The State of Israel helped as best it could over the years to countries that have been hit by manmade and natural disasters. Over the years the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) was one of the most prominent arms of humanitarian operations that contributed to saving lives in countries around the world.

The function of the Home Front Command's Search and Rescue unit is defined as follows: a command rescue force intended for performance of distinct S&R missions in the country as well as abroad, in peacetime, in war and in emergency, anyplace and at any time as needed.

The unit combines all the specialist units that are involved with S&R. The unit has participated in many special S&R operations in Israel and abroad.

Departure of IDF humanitarian aid delegation to Kenya (2006)

On January 24, 2006 following the collapse of a building in Nairobi, Kenya and the appeal made by Kenyan Vice President Moody Awori to Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Israel has decided to send the Home Front Command’s Search & Rescue delegation to assist the people trapped under the rubble. The delegation, commanded by Maj. Gen, Gershon (Jerry) Yitzhak, Head of the Home Front Command, comprised from 80 IDF search and rescue professionals and medical personnel. Upon arrival the delegation joined forces with American and British teams and started to rescue those trapped as well as providing medical treatment to the injured.

         

Israel Defense Force sends plane with relief Items to New Orleans (2005)

Following the disastrous and tragic results of Hurricane Katrina which hit the city of New Orleans and its suburbs, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless, Israel immediately offered its assistance. Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz and Israel’s

Defense Force chief of staff decided, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that an IDF delegation which will coordinate the transport of humanitarian aid from Israel to the disaster area in New Orleans will leave on September 7, 2005 for the United States. The delegation, headed by the Chief Medical officer Brig. Gen. Yeheskel Levy, left to New Orleans departed Israel with 80 tons of donated tents, folding beds, bottled water, bed linen, blankets, dried food, formula, diapers and other equipment.

Israel Defense Force sends relief plane to Tsunami hit Countries (2005)

On the last week of 2004 a tsunami hit many developed countries in South East Asia killing over 250,000 people leaving millions homeless. The government of Sri Lanka and the government of Indonesia turned to the international community in request for aid. Israel immediately offered its assistance to the affected countries and on Friday January 7, 2005 Israel’s army (IDF) sent 82 tons of medical and humanitarian aid to the affected regions in Sri Lanka & Indonesia.

         

The 82 tons of supplies included: 10,000 blankets, 12 tons of food, 17.5 tons of baby food, over nine tons of medicine and additional supplies such as generators, tents, beds and mattresses. Israel has also offered the Sri Lankan government additional assistance in the means of 150 Israeli medics and support personnel to set up field hospitals in the affected region. Sri Lanka thanked Israel for the offer and mentioned that there was no need for field hospitals.

The IDF Relief Mission to India (2001)

On Friday, 26 of January 2001, an earthquake ranking 7.9 on the Richter Scale struck western India leaving over 15,000 people dead, wounding thousands of others, including children, and causing massive destruction. The Earthquake was felt at a radius of 2,000km and was the worst to hit the country in 50 years. The epicenter of the earthquake was in Gujarat state in northwest India, but was also felt in neighboring Pakistan and even Bangladesh.

Many countries sent humanitarian aid and rescue teams to the area of the tragedy.

         

The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Ehud Barak, in conjunction with the Chief of the IDF General Staff, Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz, directed the Homefront command to prepare to leave for India.

The Medical Corps organized a medical relief mission, which was joined by experts of the Homefront Command who advised on the search and rescue of people trapped under collapsed buildings. The search and rescue operation was called "Helping Hand".

The IDF relief mission left on the eve of 30 January 2001 for western India. Five airplanes carried 65 tons of equipment. A sixth plane carried 170 members of the hdelegation. They settled in the city of Buhj where they set up one of the largest field hospitals ever sent: 27 specialist doctors, 24 nurses, medical assistants, and IDF and Magen David Adom paramedics.

         

The Hospital included one hundred beds and answered all medical needs, including surgery. The delegation returned to Israel after two weeks on the 12th of February. The IDF field hospital treated about 1,300 casualties, assisted in 12 births and helped the search and rescue activities in the field.

Aid to Victims of the Second Earthquake in Turkey (1999)

On November 13 1999, two Israeli IDF units were sent to assist the victims of the second earthquake that hit the country. One was the Israeli rescue team and the second was the Medical Corps. The teams put their rescue efforts in the city of Duztche and the Bolo district, which were hurt the most. The Israeli rescue team was able to save one life and remove 20 bodies. The teams also distributed much needed supplies such as food and sleeping bags that were donated by the Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). The Israeli medical field hospital, which was based in the city of Duztche operated until November 24, 1999. During its 10 day operation the Israeli field hospital and staff treated over 2500 injured, preformed 22 surgeries and delivered 11 babies.

Aid to Victims of the Earthquake in Greece (1999)

During the mid morning of September the 7th, 1999 an earthquake ranking 5.5 on the Richter Scale hit the South East part of Greece. The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Ehud Barak, in conjunction with the Chief of the IDF General Staff, Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz, directed the homefront command to prepare to leave for Greece

         

The Israeli rescue team that just returned from the rescue mission in Turkey started preparing to arrive to Greece. On the night of the 8th of September the Israeli IDF Homefront command (rescue team) left Israel to the disaster site at Mindi, Greece, 20km North west of Athens. In the disaster site there where already rescue teams from Turkey, Greece, Switzerland and France who had already rescued 8 people from the debris. The Israeli rescue team joined forces with the other teams in the area and assisted in rescuing more people. During the rescue mission the holiday of Rosh HaShana was being celebrated in priers in the local Jewish synagogue in Athens attended also by the Chief Rabbi of Greece, the ambassador of Israel to Greece and other distinguished guests. Before returning back to Israel the team was invited to meet the Prime minister and President of Greece who thanked them for their assistance.

Aid to Victims of the Earthquake in Turkey (1999)

During the early morning of August 17th, 1999, an earthquake ranking 7.4 on the Richter Scale hit the northwestern part of Turkey. Tens of thousands of homes were destroyed, industrial plants caught fire and tens of thousands of people were feared missing. Turkey turned to the international community for assistance and rescue teams started arriving to the disaster area.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Ehud Barak directed the Homefront command to prepare to leave for India.

The first team landed in the early evening of August 17th in Turkey and was directed to work with the Turkish Marine base in the city of Gulchuk. As reports continued to reveal the devastation, two more Israeli rescue teams as well as a field hospital were sent to the area. The IDF team went to the city of Chinricheek, were many Israeli often vacation, to try and rescue people from the rubble. After 4 intensive days an Israeli child, Shira Franko, was rescued from the rubble and united with her mother Iris who succeeded in escaping on her own. Other Israelis who died as a result of the earthquake were brought to Israel by the IDF. The rescue teams were able to rescue 12 people and remove 140 bodies. The field hospital that the IDF operated in Adapazari treated 1200 injured, performed 40 operations and assisted with 15 births.

Aid to Refugees from Kosovo (1999)

On the 6th of April 1999, the IDF set up a field hospital headed by the Medical Corp, to assist the Albanian refugees fleeing from Kosovo. The team was headed by, Chezi Levy of the Medical Corps. The team landed in Scopia, the capital of Macedonia and set up a medical field hospital which had 100 beds for treating refugees. The team consisted of 60 personnel, among them doctors specializing in internal medicine, pediatrics, infectious diseases, orthopedics, gynecology and also included paramedics, nurses and radiologists. The hospital also included an operating room, pharmacy and laboratory.

Assisting the Victims of the Bombing of the American Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya (1998)

On the morning of the 7th of August 1998, two large explosions devastated the buildings of the American Embassies in the capitals of Kenya and Tanzania. Following the reports which revealed the massive damages consisting of over 100 dead and thousands injured, Shaul Mofaz, the IDF Chief of Staff ordered to send Israeli Air Force planes with a rescue team from the Homefront command and personnel from the Medical Corp. The Team consisted of a special unit that is well trained in rescue operations and was assisted by the most sophisticated rescue equipment and trained rescue dogs. A medical relief team was sent, consisting of doctors and paramedics specializing in treating trauma and blood transfusions and were accompanied by medical supplies.

         

Since the moment that the IDF team arrived in Kenya on the 8th of August, the team started working immediately to rescue in cooperation with the US and Kenyan officials that were already on site. The team succeeded in saving and rescuing some of the survivors that were trapped under the rubble of the American Embassy.

Assisting the Turkish Government with Extinguishing Huge Fire (1997)

On the 4th of July 1997, a fire broke out in a weapons plan in Turkey. The Turkish Government requested the assistance of the Israeli Air Force in extinguishing the fire. The Israeli Air Force sent special fire fighting helicopters and sophisticated equipment. Thanks to the Israeli aid, the Turkish were able to put out the fire that could have potentially wrecked havoc in the neighboring town. The Israeli Air Force received a lot of praise following the successful operation.

Aid to Rwandan Refugees (1994)

In 1994, a bloody civil war broke out between two rival tribes: the Tutsis and the Hutus. This war resulted in over 1 million dead. As a result of the war, millions of refugees gathered in refugee camps in neighboring countries. On the 23rd of July 1994, the IDF sent a team of doctors, medical personnel, medical equipment, food and clothes for the refugees that gathered near the city of Goma, in Zaire. During the 40 day operation, 270 officers and soldiers, worked in the Israeli field hospital and provided humanitarian medical aid.

         

Aid following the Bombing of the Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina (1994)

On the 19th of April 1994, a car bomb exploded in front of the Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires. Over 100 people were killed and 200 were injured, many of whom were buried alive in this terrorist attack. Israel sent a special rescue unit from the Homefront command that consisted of over 40 officers and soldiers as well as rescue machinery. The team consisted of a special IDF rescue unit that was assisted by doctors as well as trained search and rescue dogs. The team helped to rescue many buried victims and treated many of the injured.

         

Aid to Bosnia (1992)

On the 18th of August 1992, In the wake of the civil war in Bosnia, Israel assisted by sending food and medicine to the victims. On this day, the Israeli Air Force sent a plane carrying 13 tons of essential humanitarian aid to Zagreb.

Aid to Victims of the Earthquake in the Republic of Georgia (1991)

On the 7th of May 1991, the Israeli Air Force transported essential relief equipment to the victims of the earthquake in the Republic of Georgia.

Aid to Romania (1989)

On the 27th of December 1989, following the revolution in Romania, Israel provided aid by sending a special medical team consisting of surgeons for victims of the violence and fighting. The Israeli Air Force’s Hercules plane carried medical equipment, medicine and food weighing 8 tones.

Rescue of Earthquake Victims in Armenia (1988)

On the 7th of December 1988, a powerful earthquake hit Romania leaving tens of thousands of people dead, injured and homeless. Across the globe, many relief teams came to assist the Soviet Union in rescuing and evacuating the injured and in distributing essential supplies. Israel sent a delegation that consisted of the IDF’s Civil Defense Rescue Unit consisting of specialists in rescue, medical relief along with special equipment for refugees. The Israeli Rescue teams were recognized and thanked for their professional assistance in saving human life.

         

Medical Aid to Victims of Volcanic Eruption in Cameroon (1986)

On 1986, A Medical Corps mission was sent to Cameroon to treat those injured in the volcanic eruption there. The 16-member team spent two weeks on the site and treated thousands of people suffering from respiratory problems and chemical burns.

Rescue of Earthquake victims in Mexico (September 1985)

On the 19th and 20th of September 1985, two powerful earthquakes shook Mexico City, the capital of Mexico and left in their wake thousands of homes destroyed and thousands of people buried under the rubble. Following the disaster it was decided to send an IDF team to Mexico City accompanied by dozens of tones of humanitarian supplies that include medicine, medical equipment, tents and specialists from the IDF’s Civil Defense Rescue Unit consisting of specialists in rescue and medical relief team from the Medical Corp. The rescue team received international recognition for its humanitarian efforts.

Aid in refugee camp in Cambodia (1979)

End of 1979, A small team was sent to Cambodia, where it treated refugees on the Thailand border. The team spent a month and a half there.

Israel Defense Force provides medical aid to earthquake victims in Greece (1953)

During August 1953, in the islands of Zante and Capalonia in Greece a powerful earthquake hit the country killing over 1000 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless. During the earthquake two Israeli navy ships of the Israeli Defense Force, which where in the region at the time, reacted immediately by offering medical treatment to the victims of the tragedy.

(Source IDF Spokesperson Office)