January 25, 2011

Haiti: one year after... by Yoel Barnea, former Israeli Ambassador to Uruguay


H A I T I :


O N E Y E A R A F T E R


One year ago, the earth under the Haitian people convulsed and the international community understood that we were all confronted with a major tragedy, that struck a country whose inhabitants have unfortunately a long story of suffering and struggle against poverty and underdevelopment.
The State of Israel, representing the values of the Jewish people and loyal to the principles of solidarity and " Tikun Olam" that guided us during more than three millenaries of our existence, dispatched urgently medical and other aid to the Haitian people and we committed ourselves to continue our assistance and support, together with our brothers in the Diaspora, together with all states and institutions of goodwill, until we can be sure that Haiti and its people are on the right path to heal their wounds and restart their lives, to attain a better future of development, progress and happiness for them , their children and the future generations.
Israel is establishing a Trauma and Emergency Room Unit in the Central Hospital of Cap Haitien (the second largest city, after the capital Port au Prince, situated in the north of Haiti); we are developing projects of assistance in the agricultural field, in coordination with the local Ministry of Agriculture and we are partners in the creation of a clinic for primary medical assistance in Leogane, together with the Sheeba Hospital and other associates. Also we are cooperating with various Israeli NGOs, which are providing assistance and support to the Haitian people in education, health, trauma treatment and primary necessities.
Israel, its people and the Jewish world- we are all very happy and grateful that we could take part in this endeavor, which is also our moral duty to do so- but more than that – it is a special privilege that destiny and the circumstances demand and expect from us. We hope very much that we accomplished our mission satisfactorily and engage ourselves to continue to do so with the same enthusiasm also in the future.
The challenges are still huge, difficult and numerous!!!!!!!!!!!!!