Aharon and Tamara are an older couple living in the northern community of Kirya Bialik – close enough to the Lebanese border that they live in constant fear of Hezbollah rockets. This city has not been evacuated. Aharon is permanently connected to an oxygen machine and requires near constant care. This is an electric-powered machine, meaning, he needs electricity to breathe. As threats of power outages and unknown results of a further escalation loom, Aharon and Tamara are deeply concerned.
Recently, a JDC local coordinator reached out to Tamara and Aharon to bring them an emergency kit. This package includes critical items people may need in case of emergency – a battery powered flashlight, battery powered transistor radio, whistle, an activity booklet advising on physical and cognitive stimulation when isolated for extended periods and an informational brochure. When the JDC coordinator met Aharon and Tamara at their home, she learned about Aharon’s condition, and promised to see how she could help. Today, not only does the couple have a kit that “has everything we could possibly need” (in Tamara’s words), they are also at the top of a list of residents requiring immediate assistance in the event of an escalation in the war. Thanks to JDC’s program, the Kiryat Bialik municipality now knows about Aharon and will ensure he is evacuated – or provided with an alternate energy source – should the city lose power.
To date, JDC has distributed emergency kits to 30,000 homes in 16 towns in Northern Israel.