Helping Victims of the Escalating Situation in Southern Israel

As missile attacks continue in southern Israel, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s partners – including The Jewish Federations of North America, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) – are working with the Israel Trauma Coalition to carefully monitor the situation and assess possible needs. Thanks to the infrastructure funded by the Annual Greater Miami Jewish Federation/UJA Campaign, emergency protocols are in place in Israel, and all parties are ready to take any necessary actions.

So far:

• JAFI’s Fund for the Victims of Terror has allocated up to $250,000 for the latest victims. The Fund provides emergency assistance to every family whose home was destroyed and to people physically wounded by a direct hit. The assistance, in the sum of $1,000, is meant to provide for immediate necessities that those affected have not yet received from the local authorities. JDC’s emergency teams are currently conducting needs assessments, and ITC and some of its member organizations have already provided direct grants to families, as well as targeted services such as therapists for those experiencing trauma.

• Eight JAFI absorption centers in the areas affected by the missile strikes have been operating in emergency mode since Friday. Staff has been in place 24 hours a day to serve the 2,400 olim (new immigrants) with any social and psychological needs.

• Shelters have been open and supplies are in place to serve 7,500 families living in JAFI housing in the affected areas of Ashdod, Ashkelon, Sderot, Netivot, Ofakim, Beersheva and Kiryat Gat. Approximately 2,500 of these residents are elderly immigrants and/or Holocaust survivors.

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation will continue to provide updates on the situation in Israel as it unfolds. To learn more, visit the following links:

Read statements from the Israel Defense Forces here and watch a video from the IDF Chief of Staff here.

To learn about Israel’s “Iron Dome,” a newly developed anti-missile shield, which has successfully deflected a large number of incoming rockets, click here.