Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff: I'm Glad We Could Help the People of Japan

Communicated by the Israel Defense Forces to the Israel News Agency IDF Chief of Staff: I'm glad we could help the people of Japan 12 April 2011 , 15:59

On Tuesday (Apr. 12), the IDF medical delegation to Japan returned to Israel, landing at the Nevatim air base. IDF Spokesperson Share| More Articles Under the Iron Dome southern residents feel secure 3,656 supply trucks entered Gaza in March A sign of appreciation Watch: Iron Dome intercepts Grad rocket in Ashkelon area IDF medical delegation returns from Japan Witnesses in Uniform and “Never again” All Articles The IDF medical delegation landed at Nevatim air base on Tuesday (Apr. 12). Around 220 patients received treatment at the IDF clinic in the disaster-stricken Minami-Sanriko region of Japan over the past two weeks  IDF Website  After two and a half weeks of intensive operations in the disaster-stricken region of Minami-Sanriko in Japan, the IDF medical delegation returned to Israel on Tuesday morning (Apr. 12). The delegation established a medical clinic in Minami-Sanriko and provided treatment to around 220 patients. On Tuesday, the delegation landed at the Nevatim air base in Israel. A ceremony was held and participants included Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, Home Front Commander, Maj. Gen. Yair Golan and Chief Medical Officer, Brig. Gen. Nahman Ash. Lt. Gen. Gantz thanked the members of the delegation for their important work helping the Japanese people. "Israel's advantage is its people," Lt. Gen. Gantz said. "I am happy that the delegation went and that the Japanese received us. We did our work in the best way possible." "As a people who suffered in the past, we have the ethical obligation to help people in need throughout the world," he continued. "We join in the sorrow of the Japanese nation and we are happy that we could go and lend a hand and assist in this matter." Head of the medical delegation, Brig. Gen. Shalom Ben-Arieh said: "The mission was complex, but we faced it honorably and successfully." The IDF decided that most of the medical equipment that was brought to Japan, including X-ray and laboratory equipment, would be left behind to be used by Japanese medical officials to continue providing care to residents of the disaster zone. The IDF medical delegation included members of the Medical Corps, logistics and communications personnel from the Home Front Command and search and rescue experts. For more about the IDF mission’s last days: IDF Aid Delegation to Japan Returns Home Nevatim Air Force Base Receives IDF Aid Delegation Returning from Japan