A 20-person delegation comprised of volunteers from Israel’s leading rescue organizations already has set up a field hospital and begun reaching out to earthquake victims in Nepal. Coordinated by IsraeLife and including representatives from United Hatzalah, Zaka and F.I.R.S.T., the rescue mission arrived on Monday and split up into two camps – one stationed in Kathmandu and the other in smaller villages in the periphery.
Dov Maisel, a member of joint delegation and United Hatzalah volunteer, explains conditions on the field. “Many communities have been utterly destroyed… their hospital or medical center is gone – they have nothing.”
So far, the Israeli rescue team is treating injuries, pulling people out of rubble, rescuing victims from remote locations and consoling those facing grave tragedy.
“It is very difficult. After this kind of incident you have many wounded people who have nowhere to go – and they have fractures, an infected cut – all sorts of wounds… and they have no one treating them. Our mission is to help as many people as possible,” he said.
Eli Pollak, CEO of IsraeLife, said, “We decided to enlist the cooperation of the prominent Israeli emergency agencies in order to maximize the capabilities of the delegation, which is made up of experts in serving the needs of the disaster area. We are preparing for a long stay that will provide solutions to the Israelis living in Nepal and local residents.”
Captions:
On the ground in Kathmandu: Mati Goldstein of United Hatzalah consults with a Nepalese woman about the conditions in her former home.
Working with Nepalese authorities: Members of the IsraeLife delegation join in rescue efforts with Nepalese authorities.
Body of Israeli Trekker Or Asraf Found In Nepal
Rescue volunteers from United Hatzalah, Zaka and F.I.R.S.T. on Sunday afternoon announced that they have found the body of the remaining Israeli trekker Or Asraf in Nepal. Asraf’s body was located mountainside along the Langtang Ridge. Due to severe weather conditions and dangerous mudslides, the delegation organized by IsraeLife faced a complicated mission to retrieve the body.
Eli Beer, founder of IsraeLife and president of United Hatzalah, said, “We are very sad that our mission has ended in this way. Every day, we searched for Or and held onto our hope that we would find him alive and bring him back to his family. Unfortunately, despite the tremendous effort, we found him not alive. We are consoled, however, that thanks to our delegation of volunteers, Or will come to rest in Israel. “