An Israeli medical delegation is heading to Jamaica to provide humanitarian assistance to the Caribbean island nation in the aftermath of last week’s Hurricane Melissa, Jerusalem’s health and foreign ministries announced on Wednesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is directing the team to help the local population recover from the devastating Atlantic Ocean storm, which according to Reuters took the lives of 32 people in Jamaica and 43 in Haiti as of Wednesday, with billions in economic damage.
The team, led by Health Ministry Deputy Director Dr. Sefi Mendelovich and Shaare Zedek Medical Center Director professor Ofer Marin, will provide emergency medical care alongside Jamaican staff in two hospitals serving evacuees from the hardest-hit regions. The 30-member delegation includes doctors, nurses and paramedical staff from hospitals across the country.
The mission follows a formal request from Jamaica’s Health Ministry. Israel’s ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Raslan Abu Rokan, and an additional diplomatic team were also dispatched to coordinate humanitarian operations with Jamaican authorities.
“The delegation represents the spirit of mission and professionalism of the Israeli health system in Israel, our willingness to assist other countries in times of crisis,” said Israeli Health Ministry Director General Moshe Bar Siman Tov.
“The Israeli health system is highly skilled in disaster situations and mass casualty events, experience gained in Israel and through numerous delegations that have gone to disaster areas around the world. Our medical personnel are answering the call to assist where needed,” Siman Tov continued.
Israeli Foreign Ministry Director General Eden Bar Tal called the operation an expression of Israel’s ethical commitment to disaster aid, and noted longstanding ties between the nations.
“Jamaica is one of the leaders of the Caribbean region, and we are committed to continuing to strengthen relations between Israel and these countries,” said Bar Tal.
Israel sent an aid delegation to Haiti in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake there.
