Israel - Global Aid Participant

When: August 1999
Where & Why: Earthquake, Turkey
Israel's actions: On August 17, Israel Air Force planes airlifted an Israeli team of 250 search and rescue personnel as well as sophisticated rescue equipment and rescue dogs.
On August 18, an additional IAF plane was sent to Turkey, carrying staff and equipment for a field hospital, which comprised two hospital wards for adults and children, an isolation room, an operating room, an X-ray laboratory and two clinics.
Many shipments of aid were sent including hundreds of tents containers and prefabricated dwellings to house thousands of Turks made homeless by the earthquake.

When: January 2001
Where & Why: Earthquake, Western India
Israel's actions: Israel dispatched an entire field hospital of 150 personnel including doctors, medical staff and medical equipment. They treated 1211 casualties and assisted in search and rescue. Prior to their departure, the India Airforce Commander and the Mayor of Bhuj thanked the delegation for its contribution in the saving of lives and treatment of the wounded in the earthquake.

When: June 2006
Where & Why: Earthquake, Indonesia
Israel's actions: Volunteers from Israel helped victims of the recent earthquake in Indonesia. The volunteers from the Israeli Flying Aid team, whose work was cosponsored by the American Jewish Committee, provided children with post-traumatic stress disorder treatments and served two hot meals daily to 5,200 people. The efforts in eight Muslim villages won approval from Indonesian government officials, as well as the local Muslim leadership, who asked for the group's help in reconstructing a mosque destroyed by the earthquake.

When: September 2005
Where & Why: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, USA
Israel's actions: Israel supplied 80 tons of food, disposable diapers, beds, blankets, generators and additional equipment which were donated from different governmental institutions, civilian institutions and the Israeli Defense Force.
Over 2000 students from the New Orleans area, were given the opportunity to continue their studies in Israel as part of an initiative of the Jewish Agency for overseas students.
A group of Israeli expert volunteers travelled to New Orleans in order to aid in body identification and removal.

When: December 2005
Where & Why: Tsunami, Sri Lanka & Thailand
Israel's actions: Dispatching 82 tons of humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka, in cooperation with the IDF. The relief consignment includes medicine, water, food, baby food, blankets, tents and generators.
Dispatching a humanitarian consignment to Thailand. The consignment includes medicines worth $600,000, 500 masks and 3000 body bags.

IsraAID

IsraAID is a coordinating body of Israeli and Jewish organizations and other interested parties based in Israel that are active in development, relief work and have general concern for global issues.
IsraAID was founded at the end of 2001 and consists of more than 35 groups from many sectors including: humanitarian aid organizations, student and youth movements, industry, solidarity movements, religious organizations, friendship societies and more. IsraAID's members believe in providing humanitarian aid worldwide to people in need, regardless of religion, race, gender, nationality, age and disabilities.
It has recently been involved in relief work in Africa, South-East Asia and the Middle East.

Magen David Adom (MDA)

Magen David Adom (MDA) was organized in 1930 in Tel Aviv as a volunteer "shoestring" operation by a group of seven Israeli doctors, as a one-room emergency medical service. A second MDA group formed in Haifa in 1931 and a third in Jerusalem in 1934. In 1935, a national organization was formed.
It is now recognized by the State of Israel as its only first aid and disaster relief organization which operates according to the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The MDA, now officially recognised by the International Red Cross, is involved in humanitarian missions globally. Most recently it was involved extensively in providing for the medical needs of victims in Sri Lanka and famine victims in Africa.

Zaka

ZAKA is a humanitarian volunteer organisation which coordinates nearly 1000 volunteers who respond to tragic incidents in Israel. It began as an organization of orthodox Jews who selflessly overcame horror to recover human remains after terrorist attacks, car crashes or any other incidents out of respect for the divine spirit that had filled their bodies.
ZAKA has branched and emerged as the dominant rescue, life saving and recovery non-governmental organization in Israel, working alongside law enforcement and emergency personnel in responding to incidents of terrorism, accidents or disasters.
More recently, ZAKA has received international recognition of its work and in its short history has assisted in rescue efforts such as after 9/11, the Columbia space shuttle tragedy in Texas, terrorist bombings in Egypt and for tsunami victims in South-East Asia.

All Recipient Countries

Over the years, Israel has extended an international hand of aid to the following countries:

Albania; Angola; Argentina; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Benin; Bolivia; Bosnia & Herzegovina; Bourkina-Fasso; Brazil; Bulgaria; Gurundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Chad; Chile; China; Columbia; Congo; Costa Rica; Cote d'Ivoire; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Democratic Republic of Congo; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; El Salvador; Eritrea; Estonia; Ethiopia; Fiji; Gambia; Georgia; Ghana; Greece; Guatemala; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Hungary; India; Indonesia; Jamaica; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kyrgystan; Laos; Latvia; Leshotho; Liberia; Lithuania; Macedonia; Madagascar; Malawi; Malta; Mauritania; Mauritius; Mexico; Micronesia; Moldova; Mongolia; Morocco; Myanmar; Namibia; Nepal; Nicaragua; Nigreia; Palestinian Authority; Panama; Papua New Guinea; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Poland; Romania; Russia; Rwanda; Senegal; Seychelles Islands; Singapore; Slovakia; Somalia; South Africa; South Korea; Sri Lanka; Swaziland; Tadjikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Togo; Tonga; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Ukraine; United States; Uruguay; Uzbekistan; Venezuela; Vietnam; Yugosloslavia; Zaire; Zambia and Zimbabwe.