As IDF Heads Home, Israel Flying Aid, Orange Israel Telecommunications Create Haiti Orphanage

As IDF Heads Home, Israel Flying Aid, Orange Israel Create Haiti Orphanage

Port-au-Prince, Haiti - Israel Defense Forces Field Hospital ---- 25 January ........

Israel Flying Aid and Orange Israel Telecommunications have announced today that they plan to aid humanitarian efforts in Haiti by creating an orphanage which will immediately accommodate 70 children. This will be the first of three stages of establishing the orphanage which is expected to absorb over 200 children.

Israel Flying Aid with representatives of Orange Israel are now in Haiti accessing an orphanage which was destroyed in the earthquake. When Gal Lusky, CEO and founder of IFA and David Avner, CEO of Orange Israel arrived at the orphanage that they believe will become the one that they will sponsor and contribute to, the children had no food and were suffering from severe malnutrition.

The orphanage based in Port au Prince, Haiti, which was struck by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake two weeks ago, will embrace 45 to 70 girls between 2 -14 years of age and will be staffed by both Haitians and Israeli volunteers. These volunteers will provide educational, social services, nutrition, trauma treatment working in cooperation 20 nuns.

The IDF will be provided fresh, running drinking water, an electric generator, tents and primary medical treatment.

"From showers to electricity and computers, from water, food and clothing we will rebuild this orphanage," said Avner. "As for today we will take a yard and put up tents as it is unsafe for the children to remain in these cracked and unstable buildings.

IFA and Orange Israel are seeking to raise from the Israeli business community 1-2 million dollars for this humanitarian project.

Avner, who lives with his wife and three children in Haifa Israel and has served as CEO of Orange Israel for four year, says that "the challenge will be the continuation of the orphanage for many years to come."

"The IDF came to Haiti to save lives, we have examined over 1,000 people at our Field Hospital", said Lt. Col. Tarif Bader, MD.

"We have been very successful in saving many lives but there is still an enormous amount of work to be done in Haiti, but the IDF is designed to work in disaster and war zones whereby we provide primary care treatment. We embrace the many doctors and nurses who have left their homes in Europe, the US, Canada, Columbia and several other countries, the US military which has provided a hospital ship and will remain behind to provide primary care needed. The IDF has transferred all the hospitalized patients who need further treatment to other facilities in Haiti which are now operative at full capacity. I am very proud of being part of this IDF delegation and appreciate all of the IDF soldiers both in career and reserve service who took part in this difficult humanitarian operation.

Israeli Flying Aid (IFA) is a non profit, volunteer-based, non-governmental organization (NGO) that aims to provide humanitarian life saving aid and relief to communities in areas stricken by natural disaster or territorial conflicts.

IFA focuses mainly on operating in places where local regimes prevent entry from formal international humanitarian organizations.

Israel Flying Aid reaches out to populations that for a variety of reasons are unable to receive help from formal international aid organizations such as the Burmese Delta survivors of cyclone “Nargis”.

The professional experts of IFA provide emergency assistance in three aspects: food, medical aid, and post- trauma for those who suffered loss.

IFA is dedicated to providing supplies and assistance for every individual in need, and to transcending political differences, prejudices, race, nationality and creed.

IFA, which was established in 2005, has an uncompromising obligation to the victims of disaster and not to their countries, governments, militias, or military that may prevent international assistance to victims. IFA chooses to deliver aid to communities that are hostile toward Israel, such as Iraq, Pakistan, Sudan, Indonesia and others.

Hundreds of IFA volunteers, who leave their families on short notice and risk their lives as they are dispatched to the most remote areas of the world in order to help those most in need, are brave individuals who represent the heart of Israel.

Israel Flying Aid reaches out on behalf of the Jewish people in the spirit of peace, love, and
compassion.

The above news story was edited and SEO optimized by the Israel News Agency, Leyden Communications Internet Marketing, Digital PR, New Media, Crisis Communications Group www.IsraelPr.com with sponsorship for media coverage of the Haiti earthquake disaster by the Michael Cherney Foundation and the Rochelle and Richard Maize Foundation.

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