Israel Sends Team to Help Relief Efforts in Haiti

(January 14, 2010)

(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesman)

A 220-person delegation, headed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, left Israel on January 14, 2010 for Port-au-Prince, Haiti on two Boeing 747 jets leased from El Al by the IDF. The team will join search and rescue efforts underway following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated the small, impoverished Caribbean nation on January 12, 2010. The relief package includes a Home Front Command field hospital and rescue unit, as well as teams from Magen David Adom and Israel Police.

Israel's ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Amos Radian, was already in Port-au-Prince coordinating Israel's contribution with local authorities and international aid agencies.