Israel is once again under attack, as hundreds of rockets from Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza bombard Israel’s population centers in the south, causing death, injury and trauma. Schools, homes, hospitals, shops and playgrounds are all in harm’s way as families huddle in bomb shelters trying to comfort children’s fears, while homebound elderly and those with special needs are cut off from essential services.

The IACC is there for those in the line of fire, just as we were during the heavy rocket barrage that precipitated Operation Tzuk Eitan (Protective Edge) in 2014, when we provided activities for nearly 500,000 residents while engaging just about of 13,000 volunteers.

IACC is currently working with 25 municipalities in the southern district — including eight serving the Bedouin sector — providing activities in protected spaces and opportunities for play and relief, restoring as much as possible a sense of normalcy to help contend with the trauma of daily fear and anxiety.

IACC support and assistance to Israel’s southern communities in times of crisis includes:

• Support and resources, including emergency equipment, for staff and volunteers at Community Centers in the south.
• Staff and volunteers calling homebound elderly and people with special needs to determine assistance needed, and making arrangements to provide help and home care.
• Games, activities, books and equipment for those spending significant time in bomb shelters.
• Relief Center in protected space at the Shaar Hanegev Community Center for families with young children to come rest while children play safely.
• Community Centers in other regions coordinating home hospitality for southern families who need a respite, and providing daily activities for families and children. The Eshkol Regional Council matches southern families with host communities and IACC arranges for safe transport.
• Tailored activities and support for the Bedouin communities, which this month includes the need to accommodate observance of Ramadan.

IACC will continue to serve in the role of convener and catalyst, bringing together our organizational expertise and trained staff with volunteers, municipal and donor resources in the southern region and throughout Israel to aid our beleaguered brethren in the south. During Tzuk Eitan we succeeded, together with our partners and donors in Israel and abroad to provide for the needs of our citizens in harm’s way.

We take comfort knowing that, if this tragic situation should continue, our friends and partners will again be there to enable IACC to be there for those in need.

While our hope and prayers are for a lasting cease fire, history of late tells us that unfortunately it is just a matter of time before this deadly and traumatic conflict occurs once again.  It is therefore vital that the IACC has the equipment and supplies needed to provide to the communities in the Southern District.

The IACC calls upon its partners and friends to help us appropriately prepare for any future conflict that arises as a result of the firing of deadly rockets from Gaza into Israel’s populated areas in the south by donating funds that will enable us to purchase the following vital items:

• $48,000 to provide 80 shelter activity kits.  These kits will include dolls and puppets that can be played with by the children, but also used by social workers and psychologist for role play in dealing with issues of trauma.  The kits will also provide games and art supplies to keep the children engaged in positive activities while in the shelters.
• $8,000 to purchase 20 portable speaker systems with microphones.

• $23,000 for 100 protective life vests for volunteers who must spend time out in the open.

With your financial support now, we can make sure that the communities affected by the ongoing conflict, do not have to wait until the conflict is almost over before receiving the vital equipment and important supplies they need!

Help us be prepared for any future conflict!

 

For more information, please contact: [email protected]

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