Heroic 53 Doctors, Nurses From Israel Save Lives In Japan Facing Radiation, Earthquakes, Floods
Jerusalem, Israel ---- April 5, 2011 ...... They arrived from the other side of the world. Fifty three brave Jewish men, women, doctors, nurses, medics and logistical soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces are now saving lives in Japan.
Israel was the only nation accepted by the Japan government to send a medical team to one of the many disaster areas in Japan following a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and lethal tsunami which has killed over 10,000 Japanese.
Reports and rumors that the members of this brave, humanitarian Israel team in Japan have died and or are suffering from radiation poisoning are now being verified. First reports from the Israel Embassy in Japan indicate that all members are healthy with doctors monitoring radiation levels in the city of Minami-Sanriko.
The Japan city of Minami-Sanriko had a population of 23,000 of which over 8,000 died in the tsunami floods.
The earthquake took place on March 11 and by March 20 the first IDF soldiers arrived in Japan to provide medical assistance.
Israel was the only nation accepted from over 50 countries which offered assistance. To date the IDF has treated hundreds of men, women and children with the mayor of Minami-Sanriko being the first patient.
These brave volunteer doctors and nurses from Israel are only 160 kilometers from the leaking nuclear reactors in Fukushima. Their only defense from the radiation are the plastic dosimeters that they are wearing. As far away as Tokyo pregnant women have been warned not to drink tap water.
The Israel Defense Forces has brought their own food, water and medicine from Israel for themselves and for their patients. They are career and reserve soldiers from the IDF Homefront command and medical corps ready to operate using a variety of mobile medical equipment including x-ray and ultra sound.
The IDF humanitarian team in Japan has treated babies while carrying anti radiation iodine tablets in their pockets. The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that all equipment will be left behind as a donation to the people of Japan. Both Israel Ambassador Nisim Ben-Shitirit and IDF Commander Brig Gen. Shalom Ben-Arie have stated that Israel is very grateful to have helped the people of Japan, to be of service and pleased for the heartwarming reception that they received.
“The Japanese people in the affected area went above and beyond to help us,” said Israel Ambassador Shitrit.
“The assistance of the Japanese from the moment the Israel aid delegation landed in Japan has been exemplary.” Japan’s Ambassador to Israel, Haruhisa Takeuchi, delivered a heart-felt thank you to the IDF medical delegation: “I thank you, the crew of medical personnel, from the bottom of my heart, for volunteering to help in the aftermath of this tragedy and for carrying out this difficult mission.”
The ambassador from Japan also thanked the entire nation of Israel for standing so strongly by his nation.
“In this difficult hour, we will remember the warm and merciful embrace, the goodwill and the solidarity of the people of Israel. Your support is a source of hope and encouragement.”
One patient, a sick 11-month old baby girl named Sanae, who had lost her home in the tsunami disaster, was treated by Dr. Amit Asa, the clinic’s pediatrician, and ophthalmologist IDF Lt.-Col. Orli Weinstein, with the aid of IDF Captain Galit Bidner, the clinic nurse. Sanae was brought by her grandmother to the IDF clinic at Minamisanriku, a town that has been completely destroyed in the catastrophe.
Sanae’s grandmother received medicine and instructions on how to continue treatment. She was also equipped with diapers and toys for Sanae.
Israel has also sent a consignment consisting of 10,000 coats, 6,000 blankets, 6,000 pairs of gloves and 150 mobile toilets.
Both IsraAid and Zaka, humanitarian aid organizations based in Israel, are also operating in Japan.
Japan Deputy Foreign Minister Kikuta said that the good relationship between Israel and Japan will be strengthened due to the arrival of the medical delegation to help in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan in March.
"Your excellent work here, which was impossible to ignore is very much appreciated by us and the Japanese people," said Kikuta during while touring the IDF humanitarian base. "Your success and the cooperation that you have been able to establish with local medical officials will create an opening for additional medical delegations in the future."
