Heroic
53 Doctors, Nurses From Israel Save Lives In Japan Facing Radiation,
Earthquakes, Floods
By
Joel Leyden
Israel News Agency
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 devastating 9.0 magnitude earthquake and lethal tsunami which
has killed over 10,000 Japanese.
Reports
and rumors that 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 radiation detecting 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 medical 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.
Japans
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, crying 11-month old baby girl named Sanae,
who had lost her home in the tsunami disaster, was treated by
Dr. Amit Asa, the clinics 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. Sanaes 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.
Volunteeers
from IsraAid, Zaka and Chabad - 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
IDF 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 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."