
FROM GLOBAL AID TO HOME FRONT: Israeli NGOs Turn Disaster Relief Skills Inward
Israel is famous for sending out its international NGOs to provide disaster relief around the globe, such as earthquakes in Turkey, wildfires in the United States and missile strikes in Ukraine. Now these groups are putting those time-tested skills to work in their home state, helping communities affected by missile and rocket attacks from Iran and Hezbollah, according to SID Israel, the umbrella organization that coordinates Israel’s international development and humanitarian aid community.
For example, the international aid group CADENA has mobilized its volunteers to remove broken glass, clean damaged apartments and conduct basic repairs. They also activated their network in Mexico to host Israelis stranded in Central and South America.

Lev Echad, which works in disaster zones around the world, brought in 7,000 volunteers to help restore damaged buildings and homes, repairing 3,500 apartments in seven cities throughout Israel.
IsraAID has focused its efforts on providing emotional support to families affected by the war, handing out about 1,000 resilience kits and stocking bomb shelters with stress-relief kits. These kits contain a collection of resources and strategies for overcoming the negative fallout from enduring life under attack.
“The war with Iran has created a unique situation in which that same international humanitarian expertise is now being applied here in Israel to assist affected communities,” said Einat Fogel-Levin, director of public policy and foreign relations at SID. “It is also a testament to the resilience of Israeli civil society and to the contribution of the humanitarian aid community to society’s ability to cope with emergencies.”