(Hurriyet Daily News-Turkey) Jason Epstein - The Israel Defense Forces' strong commitment to disaster relief dates back to 1953. The IDF has provided rescue and recovery operations, as well as hospital services and identification of human remains, on numerous occasions. When in August 1999 the Izmit earthquake claimed at least 17,000 lives in Turkey, on the same day of that tragedy, Israeli relief workers arrived in the affected areas, set up and installed a field hospital comprising two hospital wards for adults and children, an isolation room, operating room, x-ray facility, two clinics and medical equipment. The field hospital that the IDF operated in Adapazari treated 1,200 injured, performed 40 operations, and assisted with 15 births. Israel would provide similar assistance a few months later after a second major tremor. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit commented at the time: "From the first moment after the earthquake, we found Israel in all her power by our side. I want to express my gratitude to all of the Jewish people for their support.'' Haiti is no Gaza. The Haitian government has not unambiguously and repeatedly declared its intention to destroy Israel and kill Jews.
2010-02-19 09:08:01Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive