Nobody mentions that Israel was among the first to send aid to the Philippines .

Nobody mentions that Israel was among the first to send aid to the Philippines.(Israel21c).

In the wake of Typhoon Haiyan’s devastation, IsraAID, the Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid, has sent an aid team to the Philippines to provide critical health interventions in the hardest-hit areas. The Israeli team will help local NGOs and UN agencies in treating hundreds of thousands of people affected by one of the worst storms on record.

Typhoon Haiyan’s violent winds barreled through several central islands, knocking out power, tumbling buildings and burying people under tons of debris. Reports say some 10,000 people are believed to have died in Friday’s devastation.

“We have a team that is leaving today,” Shachar Zahavi, head of IsraAID tells ISRAEL21c on Sunday morning in Israel. “About five or six people are leaving tonight. They are flying tonight and landing in Manila and from there they will go straight to the field. Note that it’s an IsraAID-FIRST mission.

“The team will be made up of paramedics and the minute they land there we will start working to get a better understanding of how things will look. From there we will add more professionals and people specializing in child safety and trauma experts.”

The Israeli government also offered medical help to Philippines authorities — which was graciously accepted — and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is presently making arrangements for a transfer to the affected areas, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson tells ISRAEL21c.

A team of six first responders from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the IDF are also headed out Sunday night from Jerusalem to Manila. The two government officials and four Home Front Command officers “will meet with Philippine authorities and see what they need and how to get it there logistically,” a spokesperson tells ISRAEL21c. “This will help us understand what we need to send over, when to send it, and how to send it.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a letter to Philippine President Benigno Aquino: “On behalf of the government and people of Israel, I extend heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives as a result of the horrific typhoon, and I send best wishes for a speedy recovery to those who were injured.

“I hope that Israel’s assistance will help alleviate the suffering of those affected by this terrible disaster. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the Filipino people at this difficult time.”

Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Menashe Bar On extended sympathies to residents of the area and said Israel is one with Filipinos “in these trying times.”Hmmm.....Still waiting for the first Islamic aid team.