〰 Israel Defense Forces (IDF): World Humanitarian Day - Israel Helps the World

For more than seven decades, Israel has worked through delegations made up of search and rescue teams, medical personnel, engineers, and logistics specialists to provide humanitarian assistance to countries around the world during their most difficult periods. These delegations operate with the aim of saving human lives, providing medical treatment, finding people trapped under the rubble, supplying essential equipment, and helping rebuild communities damaged by disasters and crises.

1953 Greece - The beginning

Following the 7.2-magnitude earthquakes in the Greek islands, the first humanitarian aid delegation of Israel’s defense forces was deployed outside the borders of Israel. The Royal Navy teams and the Israel Army Medical Corps—without any prior experience and despite limited equipment—took the initiative, demonstrated a great deal of initiative by providing medical treatment and delivering essential equipment, and laid the foundations of Israel’s tradition of humanitarian aid.

1985 Mexico - Expanding the scope of international aid operations

After the devastating earthquake that shook Mexico City, the Israeli government dispatched a relief delegation consisting of approximately 350 reserve personnel, including medical, search and rescue, and engineering teams. The delegation provided medical services to the injured, assisted in rescue operations, and worked alongside local forces in responding to the aftermath of the catastrophe. This operation was a turning point in the development of Israel’s humanitarian aid capabilities and demonstrated its commitment to helping countries in need during emergencies.

1999 Turkey - Rescuing people from under the rubble

The earthquake of İzmit marked an important turning point in the international activities of the Home Front Command. Israel’s search and rescue and medical teams found and saved 12 people alive and provided medical treatment in a field hospital to approximately 1,200 injured people. As a result, the Israeli delegation was widely praised for its professionalism.

2010 Haiti - A symbol of humanitarian excellence

After Haiti’s devastating earthquake, Israeli teams quickly established a field hospital. This hospital performed nearly 317 surgical operations and provided comprehensive medical services and field treatment for approximately 1,110 injured people. The delegation’s activities became one of the most prominent symbols of Israel’s humanitarian efforts.

2015 Nepal - Hope among the mountains

After the Nepal earthquake, Israel deployed a large delegation consisting of approximately 270 personnel from the Home Front Command and the Medical Corps. The delegation operated with 95 tons of equipment, treated approximately 1,600 injured people, rescued people trapped under the rubble, and established medical infrastructures. The teams set up a field hospital that carried out nearly 90 surgical operations and assisted with eight births.

2021 Equatorial Guinea - Medicine and rescue at any time and in any place

On March 7, 2021, explosions occurred at a military base in the city of Bata, Equatorial Guinea, causing many casualties and injuries. In response, the Israel Defense Forces dispatched a humanitarian aid delegation consisting of approximately 60 personnel from the Medical Corps and the Home Front Command. The delegation’s medical teams worked in hospitals and mobile clinics in Bata, providing medical care to 725 patients and carrying out 92 life-saving surgical operations. Alongside them, Home Front Command search and rescue teams identified and mapped hazardous structures.

2023 Turkey - Returning to aid

In the wake of the devastating earthquakes that shook Turkey in February 2023, a large Israeli delegation consisting of search and rescue personnel, medical teams, engineers, and logistics experts was deployed. The delegation found and rescued 19 people alive and provided medical treatment and essential assistance to approximately 180 people. The delegation also helped local authorities in responding to the scale of the disaster. Its activities once again