The tragedy that struck Haiti recently is a vivid wakeup call for authorities in Israel and neighboring countries. The area surrounding Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, the city of Jericho controlled by the Palestinian Authority, and Amman, Jordan are all at risk from a major earthquake that could topple the region.
Historically, major quakes hit the Holy Land area every hundred years or so, with one potentially due at any time. Are medical personnel in Israel and neighboring regions prepared for the worst? A new joint project between the Jordan Red Crescent and Ben Gurion University of the Negev is the catalyst for Jordanians and Israelis to pool resources and create a partnership so that in the event of such a crisis, their two countries will have emergency forces in place to handle the worst.
Launched in October, the three-year academic medical emergency training program is in the process of teaching young Jordanians and Israelis how to work together as a frontline team in a concerted regional response to emergency scenarios.
A central element of the program is a Development Strategic Forum (DSF) whose members are key officials from Jordan and Israel. The project is supported by Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MASHAV program), the European Union and private donors.
Rapid response to a humanitarian crisis
While Israel and Jordan are at peace, there is scarcely any normalization of relations between the two countries. But in a bold move, Dr. Mohammed Al-Hadid, president of the Jordan Red Crescent Society and chairman of the Standing Commission of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, decided the time was ripe to seek cooperation with his Israeli neighbors for the good of both sides.
read more at Israel21C
