Abie Nathan's daughter makes contact
Daughter of late peace activist feared missing following Haiti earthquake contacts son in US. Meanwhile, Israeli delegation of over 200 doctors, rescue workers and two trained rescue dogs en route to Caribbean island to set up filed hospital that 'can treat up to 500 people a day'
Sign of life: Sharona Elsaieh, daughter of late peace activist Abie Nathan, who was feared missing in Haiti following devastating earthquake, has made contact with her family.
Elsaieh has been living in Haiti with her husband for several years now. Her family in Israel became concerned when they were unable to reach her after Tuesday's earthquake, and they contacted the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yossi Levy confirmed that contact was made with Elsaieh on Thursday. He added that the Foreign Ministry has no knowledge of any other Israelis missing in Haiti.
Elsaieh's cousin, Dorly Schwarz said Friday morning that Elsaieh had contacted her son who lives in the United States, and that she is safe. "We got a first sign of life," she said, "They said they would try to send someone there so we can talk to her. We hoped that everything was alright, but the images we saw in the media really worried us. I still don't know, we'll see what's happening. We need to see what will happen."
Elsaieh son, Daniel, took off to Haiti along with Abie Nathan's friend Henry Elkaslasi.
Meanwhile, an Israeli rescue delegation traveled to the Caribbean country Thursday night in hopes of saving as many lives as possible.
"The Israeli hospital to be set up in Haiti can treat 500 people a day and admit some 50 people in need of more comprehensive treatment. We can also treat woman in labor, children and premature babies," said Chief Medical Officer Brigadier-General Dr. Nachman Esh on Thursday, before the delegation took off.
The team, which includes 121 medical professionals and some 100 Home Front Command forces, was to take off in two airplanes – one loaded with equipment, and the other carrying the members of the rescue team.
Two dogs from the special K-9 Oketz Unit, trained to locate casualties under rubble, also joined the team. These dogs were trained specifically for rescue missions, as opposed to dogs trained to take part in operational activity and the location of explosives.
The team's members received vaccinations before taking off, in order to prevent infection with diseases that may break out due to the poor sanitary conditions in the Caribbean country.
According to Esh, the Israeli field hospital will be set up on Saturday, 24 hours after landing, and the teams will be prepared to spend two weeks at the site, or longer if necessary.
Israel Police is preparing an aid delegation of its own. The police team will be headed by Superintendent Uri Argaman from the Forensics Unit and Dr. Tzipi Kahana, a forensic anthropologist.
The team will also include a fingerprint expert, a doctor from the Forensic Institute, and an expert in body identification according to teeth x-rays.
Magen David Adom opened a special bank account aimed at raising donations for the purchase of supplies needed to aid the Haiti earthquake survivors. This includes medical and first aid equipment, blankets, medicine, food, water, hygiene kits, water purification pills, and tents.
The MDA team in Haiti will be headed by Haim Rafalowski.
Donations can be transferred to "Magan David Adom donations to the Caribbean", account number 17926, Bank Discount, Branch 151, Yad Eliyahu, Tel Aviv.
Hanan Greenberg, Tal Rabinovsky, Meital Yasur Beit – Or and Eli Senyor contributed to this report
