IDF in Haiti
IDF in HaitiIsrael news photo: IDF

The IDF's aid delegation to Haiti concluded its operations Wednesday and is heading home. The delegation, which includes 218 soldiers and 18 civilians, was scheduled to climb on board a plane and fly to Israel Wednesday night. Headed by Brig.-Gen. Shalom Ben-Aryeh, the delegation will take off from Port-au-Prince on a plane chartered by the IDF from El Al and fly directly to Israel.

The plane will land at Ben Gurion Airport at about 8:30 AM. Shortly afterward, at about 9:30, the delegation will be received in a military ceremony, with the participation of senior political and military figures.

A five year old boy from Haiti will be on board as well. The delegation decided to bring him to Israel so that he can undergo heart surgery for a congenital defect.

In order to assist in the efforts to care for survivors, the IDF left behind 30 tons of medical supplies, including bandaging materials, surgical kits, two incubators, community medicine equipment, and large quantities of food and water. In addition it is distributing 1,150 blankets, 30 large tents, 500 mattresses, 200 sleeping bags and kitchen equipment. These supplies will be transferred to the tent cities throughout the country.

The Israeli delegation received more than 1,110 patients while in Haiti. It carried out 319 operations and 16 births, three of them in Caesarean sections. In addition, rescue crews from the Home Front Command carried out rescues from the rubble of the quake.