The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews on Wednesday announced a $1.5 million-plus initiative to place 123 shelters alongside bus stops serving 42 northern Israeli communities, amid Israel’s ongoing conflict with Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
The program, which will ensure that all public bus stops within nine kilometers (6.6 miles) of the Israel-Lebanon border have protected spaces, was developed in coordination with the local municipalities and the Israel Defense Forces’ Home Front Command.
“This process is designed to continue our efforts to provide security and defense [for] areas used by children and adults in a region that is becoming increasingly tense,” said Safwan Marich, director of IFCJ’s Safety and Emergency Response Division, who oversaw the project.
“Many children know that they are protected in their homes and schools but are forced to stand in fear while waiting for their buses, and this project is intended to address that gap,” he added.
IFCJ has been a leader in addressing the issue of civilian defense across Israel, to date investing over $5 million to install 400 mobile shelters. An additional $16 million was invested in upgrading and renovating 2,400 public bomb shelters.
Since Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre, the Fellowship has allocated $22 million to civilian defense projects, including purchasing armored security vehicles and protective and first aid equipment for local rapid response security teams.
“Since the very beginning of the war, our focus has been on identifying and filling security gaps all across the country, in order to save lives and provide protection to Israel’s people during this war for our survival,” said IFCJ president Yael Eckstein.
“Placing 123 shelters in northern Israel is one of hundreds of Fellowship security programs which represent our dedication to support the people of Israel’s physical and emotional resilience, particularly since Oct. 7,” she added.