Dec 9, 2010
Update on Devastating Forest Fires in Northern Israel
After 77 hours of nonstop firefighting, Israeli officials are cautiously optimistic that firefighters have gained the upper hand against the massive forest fires that broke out in Israel’s Carmel Mountain region on Thursday, December 2. As of December 6, almost all of the fires have been extinguished, and a few small spot fires remaining were expected to be doused shortly. Additionally, the situation was helped by widespread rainfall across the country, helping to quell what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the worst natural disaster in Israel’s history.
In another positive development, residents from the area’s evacuated towns are now being allowed to return to their homes, and the emergency command post is being dismantled, having been utilized by the fire brigade, the police, the Israel Defense Forces and more.
With the immediate crisis now essentially over, the Jewish Federations or North America and its overseas partners are now assessing the wider human impact of the disaster.
The fires have killed more than 40 people, injured many and displaced more than 17,000 children and adults. Additionally, despite the heroic efforts of Israelis with assistance from many foreign governments, the fires brought devastation to entire communities, kibbutzim and thousands of acres of land.
Through community support of the Annual Greater Miami Jewish Federation/UJA Campaign, Federation’s overseas partners – the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) – already had the infrastructure in place to mobilize immediately and help the victims of this tragic disaster. Working with local authorities and the Israeli government, JAFI and JDC immediately responded by:
• Providing 1,000 shelter beds for displaced families
• Deploying youth workers to assist 150 welfare families who have been evacuated to Tel Aviv, Tiberias and Kfar Pines
• Registering 1,300 youth evacuees for day camps throughout the country, as well as providing other respite activities for evacuees
• Launching rehabilitation programs to help the frail elderly, disabled and children who have been affected by the fires
• Providing trauma relief for families who have lost loved ones in the fires
• Offering direct financial aid to the families of those killed during the fires
The Greater Miami Jewish Federation and the entire community mourn the loss of lives and prays for the recovery of the injured and missing. Updates will be provided on relief activities in Israel as they become available.
As part of an international humanitarian response to the devastating forest fires in Northern Israel, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation continues to collect funds to help fire victims and their families. One hundred percent of all contributions will be allocated directly to the relief effort.
To make a donation to Federation’s Israel Fire Relief Fund, click here.
Donation checks with notations of “Israel Fire Relief Fund” can be mailed to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, 4200 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL, 33137. For further assistance, call 305.576.4000, ext. 428, and for additional, updated information on the situation in Israel, visit JewishMiami.org's World News page or this special information resource page.
