Israeli field Hospital in Nepal to return Home

After 10 days, the Israeli field hospital in quake ravaged Nepal is packing up and heading back to Israel on Monday.

“Today the IDF completed its mission in Nepal. The mission consisted of 260 search and rescue and medical personnel and 95 tons of humanitarian and medical supplies,” said IDF Spokesperson Lt. Col Peter Lerner.

The 60-bed field hospital was set up in Katmandu. Over 16,000 people were injured and nearly 8,000 perished in the 7.8 quake. 

The field hospital treated over 1,600 patients since it was set up.

90 operations were performed on Nepal victims of the quake. 8 babies were born, including two c-sections.

Nepal's Urban Development Minister Narayan Khadka expressed the Nepal government's gratitude declared."Let me express our sincere gratitude to the government of Israel and to the people of Israel for helping us in times of very critical hours for Nepal."

Nepal: The Jewish World Responds

From E Jewish philanthropy: 

Here are some opportunities to support the work of Jewish and Israeli organizations helping to meet the needs of those most severely affected by the recent earthquakes:

• AJWS – With its long-standing commitment to disaster relief in the developing world, AJWS has set up an Earthquake Emergency Relief Fund.
• Cadena – The humanitarian aid organization of the Jewish community in Mexico
• Chabad – Hundreds of Israeli backpackers and tourists are taking refuge at the Chabad center in Kathmandu.
• IsraAID – IsraAID has a disaster team en route to Nepal.
• JDC – JDC has set up an emergency campaign to provide urgent assistance, in particular medical relief and supplies in the hardest-hit areas.
• Magen David Adom – the first Israeli relief group on the ground in Kathmandu.
• Tevel – Having worked in Nepal for the last 8 years, Tevel already has 47 Israeli staff and volunteers and 55 Nepali staff and fellows currently on the ground in Kathmandu and the surrounding villages, who are redirecting their work from year-round community development to immediate disaster relief efforts. Tevel is also looking for Israel-based volunteers to help manage relief efforts from their office in Jerusalem.
• United Hatzalah of Israel – Based in Kathmandu, their rescue units will primarily focus on searching for and providing lifesaving medical treatment to survivors.
• World Jewish Relief – The British Jewish communities response to international disasters.
• Zaka – Israel’s major non-governmental lifesaving, rescue and recovery organization.

6.1 Earthquake hits Iran

Why has Iran built its nuclear facilities on an active faultline?

From the newswire:

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake killed 32 and injured hundreds more in a sparsely populated area in southern Iran on Tuesday, Iranian officials said. Authorities said it did not damage a nuclear plant in the region.


The report said the earthquake struck the town of Kaki some 96 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of Bushehr, a town on the Persian Gulf that is home of Iran's first nuclear power plant, built with Russian help.

"No damage was done to Bushehr power plant," Bushehr provincial governor Fereidoun Hasanvand told state TV. He said 32 people died and 850 were injured, including 100 who were hospitalized.

Water and electricity were cut to many residents, said Ebrahim Darvishi, governor of the worst-hit district Shonbeh.

The UN's nuclear watchdog agency said on its website that it had been informed by Iran that there was no damage to the plant and no radioactive release and, based on its analysis of the earthquake, was not seeking additional information. The International Atomic Energy Agency statement indicated that it was satisfied there was little danger.

  Of course, this is the same administration that has claimed that the Holocaust did not happen, and that the country has no gays.  

'Erdogan helps Palestine, but not his own people'

From YNET

Two days after its devastating earthquake, Ankara submited a request to Jerusalem for the transfer of mobile homes to disaster-stricken area. Meanwhile, quake survivors directed their anger at Erdogan, saying the 'prime minister almost goes to war with Israel for sake of Palestinians, but doesn't move a muscle for us'

The Turkish Foreign Ministry submitted an official request with Jerusalem for the transfer of mobile housing units. The request was transferred from the Turkish Foreign Ministry to the Israeli Embassy in Ankara, which immediately notified the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman instructed the Ministry's Director-General Rafael Barak to transfer the necessary equipment as soon as possible.

The death toll has reached 432, with 1,352 people injured in Sunday's quake.