6 Israelis still missing in Haiti as death toll rises
Missing Israeli mother, son found unharmed; four additional Israelis reported missing. IDF medical aid mission set to leave for disaster zone, build field hospital
Rescue efforts continued Wednesday night in Haiti following a massive earthquake that shook the country in the morning hours.
Haitians piled bodies along the devastated streets of their capital after the powerful earthquake flattened the president's palace, the cathedral, hospitals, schools, the main prison and whole neighborhoods. Officials feared thousands, perhaps more than 100,000, may have perished but there was no firm count.
UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy said that at least 14 UN personnel were killed and 150 were still unaccounted for, including mission chief Hedi Annabi. 56 others were injured, and seven of them were medically evacuated from the country
The international Red Cross said a third of the country's nine million people may need emergency aid and that it would take a day or two for a clear picture of the damage to emerge.
Scale of disaster still unknown (Photo: AP)
"The situation is chaotic," said Doctors Without Borders Operations Manager Paul Mcpon. According to Mcpon, most of the hospitals and the medical centers in the country collapsed or are unusable. Communication lines and electricity is down and it is very hard to estimate the scope of the damage and locate missing persons.
The Foreign Ministry said that six Israeli citizens are still reported missing in Haiti – among them Sharona Elsaieh, daughter of late peace activist Abie Nathan. The ministry said it managed to contact Bridget Pierre Amashi and her nine-year-old son, Segev David Amashi, who were reported missing earlier Wednesday.
Father: Relieved to find my son
Eli Amashi, Segev's father, told Ynet: "I am relived and exhausted." Amashi received word from his divorcee's mother that the two were located safe and sound. He said that he has yet to talk to his son, due to the jammed phone lines, but hopes to speak with him soon.
The Israel Defense Forces is preparing for the possibility of sending an aid delegation that will include some 200 medical personal and Home Front Command staff. The delegation will focus on giving medical aid and will set up a field-hospital that can treat injuries.
It is still not clear whether the delegation will fly to Haiti with air force planes or a private airline. Chief Medical Officer Brigadier-General Dr. Nachman Esh said that the delegation already got a departure permit from the Chief of Staff and is awaiting instructions from the political echelon.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
