Israel's Haiti field hospital: a microcosm of a country's turmoil
Staff work day and night to save lives at hospital, which has treated 87 children, and even delivered a baby.
By Natasha Mozgovaya Tags: Israel newsPORT-AU-PRINCE - The Israeli field hospital in the earthquake-stricken Haitian capital reflects the streets of the city, fluctuating between despair and hope amid the looting, violence and stories of miracles. Each account takes on great importance against the background of the earthquake that devastated the Western hemisphere's poorest country.
A baby around 18 months old lies on a bed in intensive care. She was admitted with an open sore and a massive infection throughout her body. The respirator shakes her every time it forces air into her. She has already been resuscitated a few times, and the team is not optimistic.
In the children's ward, located in a tent, is a baby under a year old; someone left him here after he was pulled out of the rubble Sunday morning. He has open sores on his leg and does not make a sound except for a slight chirping when the doctor checks his leg. The doctors say he is in shock.
"His condition is stable and pretty good considering what he's been through. He'll get antibiotics and surgery on the leg - it's a rare case of survival; apparently he was in an air pocket," says Dr. Assaf Amit, who heads the children's emergency department. "When he came here his condition was life-threatening."
His parents aren't here - perhaps they are dead - but the Israeli nurses caress him and give him a warm bottle of milk. "Apparently it's genetic, the ability to survive - he was lying in the rubble without food for five days," says Gali Wiest, the delegation's head nurse.
"We were shocked by the sights, and the nurses here have to cope with providing nursing care - it's a third-world country," she says. "I have four children myself and I was an emergency-room nurse, but the sights here are very difficult and you need a lot of mental fortitude. We've already taken in 87 children, most in moderate to serious condition; there have been a few operations and amputations, and they keep coming."
Photo: Natasha MozgovayaBut no one stays for long. The hospital has a two-week mandate - nothing compared to the time it takes to recover from complex injuries.
"We're all thinking about the fact that we discharge them into the street, in effect, because they have no home," says Dr. Avi Yitzhak. "But you have to make the right decision: Either you take in 40 people and treat them for two weeks or you try to save as many as possible to at least stop the primary injury."
Yitzhak immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia in 1991 and says he feels a special connection to the patients here. He says he knows the problems of practicing medicine in the developing world.
"There's no organized network of clinics here, there's nowhere to discharge them to and we have to treat as many people as possible, as long as it's still possible to save them," Yitzhak says.
"When I went out on rescue yesterday I saw what was happening in the streets, the bodies, the people who didn't know what to do. It's obvious that the work is very intensive and I assume that we could burn out at a certain stage. But for now we're full of energy and we're thrilled by our ability to help."
Willsmith Joseph, 9, had surgery Saturday to amputate his toes, which had developed gangrene. Sunday morning he was in a deep sleep in the children's ward. His older brother knelt beside him. They will have to leave before noon. The nurse gives him two packets of antibiotics and some acetaminophen and tries to explain in English when to take them.
"Where are you going?," I ask the older boy. "We have no place to go. To the tent encampment," he says. "Our house was ruined." Willsmith's face contorts in pain as he walks with his new crutches.
"Had we not amputated his toes the gangrene would have spread and he would have died within days," Dr. Yitzhak explains. "Yes, it hurts, and there's an infection, but he'll live. It's a drop in the ocean, and it's frustrating, but we have to do the maximum to help as many people as possible."
Most of the wounds are infected and neglected - some people were pulled out of the rubble after being trapped for a few days, others simply couldn't get to a hospital or were turned away. Max Darlene Azur, 29, came to the Israeli hospital with open wounds on both sides of her leg. For four days she shouted and writhed in pain in the town square. The bodies of two of her cousins were still inside her home.
"I was in my room, and the wall simply collapsed onto my leg. But now I feel much better," she says.
The hospital also had its first birth Sunday. Jeanne-Michelle was brought in with labor pains and delivered a beautiful boy, her fourth child. Jeanne-Michelle sits indifferent most of the time, but when she says her newborn's name - Israel - a broad smile spreads across her face. "I feel fine," she says. She will be discharged within a few hours, to make room for other deliveries.
"It's very symbolic," Dr. Dar Shir says. "In a place where even without the disaster infant mortality is among the highest in the world and most women don't give birth in hospitals, the best experts in Israel delivered her baby. It's very moving, and balances out a little the things that are happening here, and reminds us that a woman who is ready to give birth will do so even when there's an earthquake. It's what keeps the human race going. Of course it's a problem to discharge them under these conditions, but at least she delivered safely and both mother and baby are in excellent condition."
According to the field hospital's commander, Dr. Itzik Kreis, "Throughout the night we continued to deal with saving lives; we received a number of patients in very poor shape who needed surgery and intensive care.
Photo: Natasha Mozgovaya"For now the other medical teams don't have the ability to provide more than first aid. We are focusing on saving lives," says Colonel Kreis. "Most of the injuries are a result of the earthquake, but in a few days the situation can change and regular patients will start to come in as well."
How to donate via Israeli organizations:
Foreign Ministry: Tel (+972) 2-659-4222
ZAKA: Online at https://www.zaka.us/haiti.asp Or via bank account: Zaka-InternationalBank of JerusalemBranch # 3018 Keren Hayesod, Jerusalem, IsraelAccount No: 300060134Swift Code: JERSILIT
Magen David Adom: Magen David Adom Trumot LakaribimIsrael Discount BankBranch # 151Yad Eliahu, Tel AvivAccount No: 17926
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If the intention is to help, then help. this is a noble initiative. But don't use it to do a PR campaign. It jeopardizes the nobility of the act, making it look false. Terrible tragedies should not be 'used' - it is total disrespect to the victims. Same as the Holocaust. It should not be used n an agenda. It should be remembered as a lesson to al humanity. If it is 'used', it is a disrespect to the victims and the survivors...
can we offer to adopt or foster these children like Willsmith Joseph and his brother? do they have family?
All I Can say is kol hakvod (hats off) to the israelie team.. you guys went in blind-- u didnt wait for the dust to settle, u went for the unknown and saved the day (as much as could be saved) Moti Mitteldorf
CNN and BBC yes. Fox is very much on the Right
BW: "Propaganda is spreading lies about what you plan to do (like many Arab countries did). If PR means showing the good things you actually did, too bad not all the countries are helping the poor people of Haiti for PR sake (if not for real feelings)." Except.... Israel Hasbarah is running very close to propaganda as it milks this issue for all it is worth. I applaud Israel's efforts on the ground, but once the Israeli media starts chanting "500 a day! 500 a day!" without acknowledging that the Canadians (just as an example) have THREE field hospitals that expect to treat 500,000 patients then you have to wonder if the PR isn't slipping dangerously close to propaganda.
If I were a truck driver, I would never, for any amount of money, deliver goods to Gaza. They shoot Israeli truck drivers!
It was all over Fox News, Sky, BBC and CNN. Yes, maybe these left wing newspapers have an agenda.
For Israel to send a field hospital to Haiti and have it up and running with 48 hours is extraordinary!!! The work you have been doing and will be doing is amazing. You have demonstrated what should be done when it comes to a natural disaster. Maybe you should show and let the U.S. know how to do it. Field hospitals,like yours, could have been set in many locations throughout the country within 48 hours---like you did. Congratulations on doing a tremendous job!!!
To Mark from Raanana, I felt exactly the same thing you told ! This kindergarten competition is a very sad thing ! I completely agree with you: "God bless all those who are helping to alleviate the suffering.", as you wrote !
speak with us, by the way, a lot succed to enter israel and ger medical care!!!
Haitis earthquake and devistation should not be used as a tit for tat regalia. This island nation has long enough suffered at the hands of the World, and Nations using it to further its own gains. Israel in many ways has been blessed by God, and the DRS and Nurses going to this devastated island to extend it's blessings gives everyone Hope. I may be critical of Isreals govt, but not of the people who are able to look beyond it's borders. This is what humans do, this is what civilized people do...we CARE!!!
For all those who think that Israel does not have a moral responsibility to help the suffering in Gaza and that their response to Haiti is not comparable, read Akiva Eldar's column in Haaretz today: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1143313.html
Propaganda is spreading lies about what you plan to do (like many Arab countries did). If PR means showing the good things you actually did, too bad not all the countries are helping the poor people of Haiti for PR sake (if not for real feelings).
I know when Israel makes mistakes. These days I am very proud of Israel. How can anyone compare the situation in Haiti, where the poor people did nothing in order to deserve the earthquake and the devastation and Gaza, where the people chose to use the freedom (when Israel left) in order to bomb innocent Israeli civilians and to kidnap a soldier from OUR territory? Why should we help those who declare openly that their goal is to kill us all when we can help people who are thankful for the help they receive and who have done nothing wrong to anyone? It is like asking you why do you help a wounded person in a street and not someone who has fired a gun at your back but didn't kill succeed to kill you and has injured himself in the process. Who would you choose to help?
Israel lets humanitarian aid such as food and medicine into Gaza. It does not permit any kind of construction materials like concrete because these things do not go to ordinary people for rebuilding they go to building tunnels. Hamas have also many times stopped the trucks carrying aid and then selling the stuff on the black market Israel is letting essentials like food & medicine but its not letting through other materials which could be commandeered by terrorists and then used to carry our attacks against Israel. The Israeli governments first duty is to protecting the lives of Israeli citizens and if that makes life harder for its enemies well thats life. NO TERROR = NO GAZA BLOCKADE OR EVEN INVASIONS.
To Henry The human catastrofe id NOT made by Israel. Food and medicine is going to Gaza, building material very little since Hamas using them to build bunkers and manufacture rocket fired at Israel Don't be so hollllly on subjects that you don't even know
Everybody knows that Israel is very bad doing propaganda. It would be great to show in the news the baby who was born in the Israeli field hospital. It would be great naming him Israel. It would be great to grant him Israeli Citizenship. Perhaps, he is not only one of the first who was born after the earthquake. Perhaps he is the very First newborn child. It would be great to read in Haaretz headlines: "IN THE MIDDLE TO ALL THESE DEATHS COMES OUT LIFE". Who knows it better than the Jewish People?
Here's something you may care to read: Democracy Now! 15 January 2010 "Bush Was Responsible for Destroying Haitian Democracy." Amy Goodman speaks to Randal Robinson, visiting law professor at Pennsylvania State University. His latest book is. "An Unknown Agony: Haiti From Revolution to the Kidnapping of a President." He is the founder and past president of TransAfrica. http://www.democracynow.org/2010/1/5/bush_was_responsible_for_destroying_haitiar A most horrifying natural disaster has struck Haiti, and every effort should be made to take relief to the suffering Haitians. The potential for future occupation of Haiti, during such vulnerability, should be in the world spotlight.
And WHEN will Israel send aid to Gaza? They {Gazans] have a human catastrophe right in their backyard, that they [Gazans] caused [by shooting rockets into Israel non-stop for 8 years], and they [Israelis] continue to blockade all [importing of potential war materiel into Gaza but ALLOW VIRTUALLY EVERY DAY] food, medical supplies, and necessary [survival] materials for millions of people who are also suffering. Yet people take pride in Israel`s humanitarian efforts in Haiti??? [Of course, Mr. Jew Hater - the Haitians have never tried -or even wished for - Israel's annihilation - What a joke!! [The joke is on you - WE ARE STILL HERE - AHM YISRAEL CHAI !!!]
Yea well pity they couldn't use all that expertise and equipment to help to dig out all the Gazan civilians they themselves buried under their homes just about a year ago.
Oh come on Channah - try looking at Israel the way the rest of the world does! One year ago they had no qualms about burying Gazans under the rubble of their homes and with no thought as to who was going to dig them out. So don't be surprised when some of us find ourselves being just a little tincy wincy bit cynical about the humanitarian Israel you are trying to portray now. Sorry, it just doesn't wash!
Although, as a country and people, Germany and the majority of Germans have accepted Germany's guilt in the Holocaust and have been making amends to Isarel and Jews, there are still quite a few Germans who simply can not accept the atrocities their fathers and grandfathers did to Jews, and do not know how to deal with their guilt. As a result these Germans use the Israeli Palestinian conflict to "feel better" for the atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis by blaming Israel for "atrocities" to Palestinians. I call this the "Holocaust Syndrome". I see it often in Germans, even in some German friends of mine living here in Canada. One of them suffers so badly from this syndrome that she even refused to see the movie the Schindler's List! I think Heinrich represents a typical case of the Holocaust Syndrome.
People from all over the world are helping as they can. They are even trying to donate from Gaza and Bangladesh. Like you said, people should concentrate on what they can do, not what others may not have done.
If Israels contribution is insignificant then what do you call the contributions made by Saudi Arabia who sent nothing more than a message of condolences and Quatar who sent some aid and thats about it. Israels contribution was Hundreds of rescue workers A field hospital capable of treating 500 patients a day equipped with 40 doctors, 25 nurses, paramedics, a pharmacy, a childrens ward, a maternity ward, radiology department, intensive care, 2 operating rooms. This is one of the best equipped field hospitals thats been sent by any country and considering Israels recources thats huge. Also if Israels contribution is so insignificant then how come Israeli rescuers have managed to dig out 5 people alive so far & that doesn't include all the lives being saved by the Israeli doctors. Oh how many children born in Haiti are going to be named Saudi Arabia or Quatar? One woman has just named her new born baby Israel because its thanks to Israel she is alive & her baby was born.
YEs, Israel's aid is indeed insignificant (the largest and best equipped field hospital there). Why don't you ask those who have been treated by Israeli doctors if the treeatment they received was insignificant? You're something else! Full of (rancid) sour grapes
1. Israel DID set up a very large field hospital on the Gaza border during Cast Lead. Many Gazans who attempted to go there were shot at by Hamas security personnel. The hospital sat mostly empty while people who could have used their services were mere yards away, all because Hamas didn't want Israel to "look good" in the media and to the Gazan people. 2. Israel sends more humanitarian aid to Gaza on a daily basis than most of the world's countries have committed to Haiti. Think for one moment: if Israel WANTED to inflict pain and suffering on Gaza, it could unleash the gates of hell in a matter of moments. That it doesn't speaks to the humanity of the Israeli military. If the situation were reversed, would Hamas hesitate for a second to unleash all its might on their enemy? I assure you they would not care a whit about the suffering of the average Israeli.
god bless these volunteers - and watch the world will ignore it or probably even condemn them ---
SAUDI ARABIA - a message of condolences to the president of Haiti. KUWAIT & MOROCCO - each have pledged $1 million UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - 1 plane load of aid QATAR - they plen to send 50 metric tons of aid EGYPT, SYRIA, LEBANON & OTHER ARAB STATES - nothing JORDAN - they have sent a few rescue workers and doctors That is the entire contribution from 22 arab states. ISRAEL A field hospital which can treat 500 people a day equiped with: 40 doctors, 25 nurses, paramedics, a pharmacy, a childrens ward, radiology, 2 operating rooms, a surgical department. Hundreds of rescue workers. This is one of the best equipped field hospitals thats there right now. Nattalie Durston, CJ & the rest of the Israel bashers around here I dare you to criticize what Israel is doing in Haiti right now...
HAs aid been forthcoming from the arab countries? From Hamas ot Fatah?
This comparison of who sent what is embarrassing and unseemly. Everyone should send doctors. There should be no politics involved. That is all.
Arabs from the Gaza Strip as well as from Judea and Samaria have long been treated in Israeli hospitals. Do you not recall the story of one Arab woman who, afterbeing discharged, sought to set of a bomb in the very hospital in which she had been treated. In response to your guestion specifically about Cast Lead, I suggest you ask how many Germans were admitted to UK hospitals during WW2
Strange that you never showed any curiosity about Hamas, PLO, Hizbula, etc. publicity stunts before. Shows your colors, doesn't it.
Why didnt Israel allow Gazans to Israeli hospitals during cast lead last year? Where was the help then? Where? ...It is a blatant lie . They did and still do treat many enemies in Israeli hospitals , unlike any other NORMAL country did historically and would do now .
How many reporters did the IDF fly to Haiti for this cynical PR stunt.... Israel does not need any PR , the facts tell the story , and your Curiouser envy will eventually kill you . So chill , it is good for you .
What is this some sort of kindergarten competition? 200,000 are estimated to have died and that's probably conservative and that doesn't include the catastrophic aftermath yet to be calculated and the best that some of these talkbackers come up with is; Country A sent 3 more doctors than country B; Country C sent a kilogram of flour more than Country D. What, have you guys got a collective IQ of 7? Let me say God bless all those who are helping to alleviate the suffering.
Germany , would feed and supply a mortal , murderously bent enemy , as Israel does . The human catastrophe in Gaza , you mention , could of been solved a long time ego if not for Hamas intentionally sinister rocket terror . It is all self inflicted by Hamas to fool people like you , and to hold into power without any regard for human lives . But people like you will keep on parroting the same old tired Hamas line .
"Repentance , Prayer , Charity". This is what makes the world human , and Israel is the leader in all those attributes . The true light into nations . Thank you Israel .
... and give thanks wholeheartedly to the G-d of Israel for those He sent to bless both him and his mother in a distant land in their time of need. That precious little wrapped up prayer in one of the Kotel's many stone crevices will serve to help fulfill the biblical prophecy that Israel will blossom and bud and fill the face of the world with fruit.
AGAIN THE WORLDS PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENTS DO HELP - JUST WONDERING HOW MUCH MRS ARAFT HAS SENT SIMCHA
Actually I have not read about Israel's contribution in the international press. Is that because they are all anti-semitic, or becase the contribution is insignificant?
We remember the Norwegian medical team being smuggled through the tunnels. We also remember the doctor who had worked in Israel hospitals, who lost most of his family. Of course he was finally allowed in to Israel with his injured relatives - when his story embarrassed Israel into some token of humanitarian response.
israel is not the only one who has set up a field hospital. i think most of the europeans countries have one as well as many others in the world. very important:iran is not an arab country. venezuela has delivered more food and emergency stuff than israel. venezuela has send as well a ship full of petrol and will deliver as much petrol as they need. lebanon has send aid already including doctors.
Do you really believe that? Show us proof of people who are suffering. Are you as critical of Egypt as you are of Israel on this issue? Read the Hamas Charter and then explain why Israel owes anything to a polity run by Hamas - and be sure to include, in your analysis, the fact that Gaza had sent thousands of rockets into Israel pre-December 2008.
Gaza receives 28% more aid than before the latest round of fighting. Gazans live 7 years longer than Egyptians and their average income is 30% higher than the average Egyptian income. So I anticipate your next question : When is Israel going to send help to Egypt ? Nich wahr ,Heinrich?
As a Haitian living in the Netherlands, it touched my heart last night to see on Sky News how devoted the Israeli rescuers and doctors are over there in Haiti to help save lives. Yes, I've been critical in the past of Israel's brutal treatment of the Palestinians, but I've tried to do so in a rather constructive manner. It's nice to see Israel (and by extension the Jewish people) doing good humanitarian work!! It helps remind me that, in spite of the Palestinian problem, the Jews are fundamentally a good-hearted people. On behalf of the Haitian people, I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart. Shalom!
what news are you viewing?
shavua tov, cipora
Why didnt Israel allow Gazans to Israeli hospitals during cast lead last year? Where was the help then? Where??
How many reporters did the IDF fly to Haiti for this cynical PR stunt
And WHEN will Israel send aid to Gaza? They have a human catastrophe right in their backyard, that they caused, and they continue to blockade food, medical supplies, and necessary materials for millions of people who are also suffering. Yet people take pride in Israel's humanitarian efforts in Haiti??? What a joke!!
So many countries are there. Yet few are mentioned in the news. The problems of logistics are immense. At least 2 million people need to be fed. Hundreds of thousands need medical care. Gangrene has now set in for many. Treating these good folk in Haiti has become a nightmare. A massive airlift should be arranged to the US. The strong are already preying on the weak. The 82 nd Airborne cannot restore law and order. This is just the beginning, for even the US cannot expect to gain control of this tragedy through official visits, rather less promises and more action, as shown by Israel. Well done Israel, you make many proud. Good day from snowy Swiss Alps.
During the above tragedy, The United States Air Force flew in supplies, etc into Iranian airfields. Long lines of US Servicemen and Iranian soldiers unloaded said military aircraft. Have a nice day.
Iran as any other Arab country have not sent any help to Haiti so far. Israel is the only countru to have a real hospital.Mexico also has Doctors an the famoust "topos" rescue group who by the way were trained by Israel in the 1985 earthquake in Mexico. The idiot gorilla from Venezuela did not sent any help but was very fast in acusing the US to try to invade Haiti. What a idiot.
As you said, all this should transcends conflicts, but the Iranian response was that in the case of Israel, they would turn down the offer even if it costs lives. What a shame.
I propose a competition between Israel, Iran and Lebanon to see who can give the most aid to Haiti and save the most lives. Great publicity and nobody gets killed.
I think this tragedy transcends regional conflicts. Most countries are helping. Here's the article about Iran's aid: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=116253§ionid=351020101 During the Bam earth quake a few years ago, Iran explicitly rejected Israeli aid. I thought that was ungracious and even stupid. But there is too much suspicion on both sides.
The only know how to send rockets.
Mr Hiriri formed a unity government with Hezbollah 2009. Hezbollah form part of the government of Lebanon. So yes, Hezbollah would be sending aid to Haiti. Please note the humanitarian work carried out in Haiti by doctors from Cuba prior to the earthquake. Cuba trains Haitian student doctors. Mr Castro provides scholarships to Haitian students. Venezuela, Cuba and Haiti have a trilateral agreement in place - building hospitals in Haiti and providing medical care, prior to the earthquake! Peace.