In its latest humanitarian initiative, Israel
launched an operation to provide medical care and financial aid to the weaker populations of the remote Vietnamese jungles last week.
The Israeli ambassador to the far eastern country, Efi Ben Matityahu, was behind the initiative, after he decided to call off the traditional Israeli Independence Day celebration at the embassy and put the money to better use.
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The mission, which will cost a total of $50,000, was carried out in cooperation with Vietnamese clinics run by Israeli doctor Rafi Kot.
Last week, a group of 54 doctors and nurses left for the mountainous jungles located near the Laos border. Five of the doctors and a few of the nurses were Israeli, while the remainder of the medical staff came from other parts of the world.
The crew traveled through the jungle in vehicles carrying the sign "Israel-Vietnam humanitarian mission".
The team set up medical camps in which some 2,500 children that have never seen a doctor before were treated. Patients in need of an operation were transferred to a city clinic, which performed all the operations free of charge.
Food, clothing and toys were also distributed among the poor children.
The week-long mission, which was greatly praised by the Vietnamese government, will come to its end on Tuesday.
"We are the first western country in the world to operate in this remote geographical region, and the authorities appreciate it very much," said Ambassador Ben Matityahu, "The mission is receiving great media exposure, which brings much pride to the State of Israel."
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