Where’s the Coverage? Israelis Help Hurricane Sandy Victims

On October 29, “Super-Storm Sandy” made landfall on the eastern coast of the United States. The storm destroyed thousands of homes, left millions without electric power, heat or hot water, and killed over a hundred. Gasoline, food and other necessities remain in short supply, particularly in some of the hardest hit areas of New York and New Jersey.

Given that Israel is often the country first on the scene with aid at major natural disasters, it should be no surprise to learn that various Israeli non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are working to bring relief to victims and supplies to emergency workers in New York and New Jersey. Except you wouldn’t learn it from most of the popular press.

According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, a delegation of about a dozen trained rescue volunteers from IsraAID is leaving Israel headed for the devastated areas of New York’s Long Island and the New Jersey shore. Leading the group is Shahar Zahavi, who oversaw relief work in Haiti in the wake of the 2010 earthquake.

In addition, affiliated NGOs Israel Flying Aid and Israeli Humanitarian Aid-Latet, (“latet” means “to give” in Hebrew) are already at work. “We have been responsible for making fuel deliveries to hospitals in New Jersey, and going directly down into the South Shore of Long Island and delivering generators, food and providing other essential equipment and supplies,” says Ra’anana resident and volunteer Joel Leyden. “We’re talking about devastation close to a nuclear bomb having gone off, with hundreds of homes completely leveled and thousands of people without electricity, without food, without water, without shelter.”

Residents and those working in the area have been happy to see the Israelis. Dr. Jason Mallin, who normally practices neurology at North Shore University Hospital but was volunteering with the Nassau County Department of Health, said, “We read about Israel and the great work you did in Haiti. We have thousands here that need you. It’s awesome that you are here!”

Only The Wall Street Journal picked up an Associated Press brief mentioning this news. The story was also covered in more depth by some in the Jewish press.

Other than that, this news has been utterly ignored. Though Sandy wreaked havoc on their readership, neither The New York Times nor the New Jersey newspapers gave any space to a story about Israelis traveling half-way around the globe to help hurting Americans, instead deeming it more important to their readers to inform them about internal Israeli politics, Scientology attempting to make inroads in Israel and an Israeli flim festival.

Given that hundreds of thousands are still suffering, you’d think it would be helpful to them to know that someone is trying to help. But… Where’s the coverage?

Roger Parrott, Jacob Parrott and Joel Leyden deliver a generator and gas to a Hurricane Sandy New York victim. Photo: Rebecca McCann /Israel News Agency