17 Georgians wounded in Caucasus war to be treated in Israel
Israel's humanitarian aid to war-ridden Georgia continues, as it flies seriously injured men, women in for medical treatment in leading hospitals
Seventeen Georgian citizens, who suffered severe injuries in the recent armed conflict between Russia and Georgia arrived in Israel on Tuesday night, in order to receive medical treatment.
The wounded are categorized as suffering serious injuries, with most presenting sever head, chest and abdomen wounds.
More than 10 ambulances were waiting in the Ben-Gurion International Airport on Tuesday, as the wounded arrived. Five were taken to Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, and the rest were admitted to Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Kfar Saba's Meir Hospital, the Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva, Rehovot's Kaplan Medical, Haemek Medical Center in Afula and the Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba.
Three more arrivals are scheduled to be admitted to the Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital in Jerusalem next week.
Magen David Adom Chairman Eli Bin told Ynet that as a member of the International Red Cross, MDA sees its mission to help those wounded in the Caucasus conflict as a top priority.
Dr. Ehud Davidson, head of Clalit Healthcare Services' Hospitals Division, said the move was prompted after "it was made evident that the hospitals in Georgia can't deal with the mass quantities of injuries. We have the experience professional experience in treating war injuries."
The cost of the care, he added, is funded by the hospitals and MDA, as part of the humanitarian effort offered to Georgia.
Lending a hand
MK Avraham Michaeli (Shas) and Itzik Moshe, president of the Georgia-Israel Chamber of Commerce are the men behind this initiative. The two were joined by Clalit Healthcare Services, Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer and the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.
"I've been running a war-room ever since the conflict broke out, in order for us to be able to help the people in Georgia, and especially its Jewish community," Michaeli told Ynet.
"I've been working closely with the Georgia-Israel Chamber of Commerce and in one of the meeting we came up with the idea of flying the wounded in for treatment.
The idea first materialized last week, as Michaeli and Moshe were able to have four wounded men flown in and admitted to the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa. "The Georgian community in Haifa has been taking care of them, we're like their family here," said Michaeli.
The majority of the injured, he added, were not of Jewish descent, "but doing this for them helps Israel's reputation around the world. I have friend in Georgia that told me that when the ambulances were taking the injured to the airport, people were so overwhelmed they were crying."
Another medical mission is scheduled to leave for Georgia on Thursday, this time sponsored by IsraAid – the Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid.
The wounded Georgians' stay in Israel is said to be documented by Georgian television, and according to Michaeli "they see our assistance as a very big deal."
Yael Levy contributed to this report
