After more than two months of war, it can be said that according to the current situation, the State of Israel has not proven itself when it comes to dealing with evacuees. The war is not expected to end in the near future, and as of now, the families of those evacuated from the communities near the Gaza Strip and the northern border are budgeted only for the next two months and are in severe uncertainty.
Middle Arava Logistics Center at Sapir, Photo: Inbal Harpaz,
Fortunately, as in almost every field during the war, civil society has proven its strength here as well, and the public contributes non-stop, but it is impossible to count on donations and the state must enter the picture with all its might. We must remember that people have been uprooted from their homes – from the kibbutzim, from the cities and from the moshavim – and need a proper budget to live, until they can return to their homes and the communities from which they evacuated. In the Real Estate Today supplement, which will be published on December 20, we will extensively review the state's failed treatment of the evacuees and the solutions found for them in the meantime.
One of the most prominent examples of a region in which civil society fills the vacuum created by the negligence of government ministries is the Middle Arava region. 2,200 people and children from the surrounding communities did not wait for the state and evacuated after Black Sabbath, with the help of the Central Arava Regional Council and their friends in this area, to seven communities, where they were lovingly absorbed into the homes of the residents, guest rooms and khans.
These evacuees actually increased the population of the residents of the Middle Arava by 50%, but these communities are not hotels, holiday villages or kibbutzim that are prepared and know how to absorb such a number of people – and more in the long run. Despite this, the local residents manage to meet the absorption task well, relying on initiative and goodwill – especially from volunteers.
A meal for the evacuees in cooperation with the Deir Council, in the Middle Arava region, photo: Gila Tal
Already the day after Black Sabbath, volunteers from the Arava began organizing to collect clothing, equipment, toys, diapers, and medicine for the residents of the envelope, who were left destitute. In addition, they set up dining rooms, large kitchens, reception centers, built an activity program for children and adults, and more.
At first, each community organized its own warehouse, and later a huge logistics center was organized in the building of the "Search and Rescue" center in Sapir, near the regional council, which was established with the assistance of JNF USA (which even donated a budget to aid activity in the Arava these days).
The few restaurants in the Arava became logistical kitchens, and with the help of residents and farmers who brought equipment and produce, we organized hot meals for all 2,200 residents of the envelope (every day). In addition, the Arava Community Center organized the youth and counselors for daily activities for the children of the envelope.
On November 15, the "Eshkol in the Arava" school was opened in Ein Yahav for children and youth from the Eshkol Regional Council, in a joint effort of the Ministry of Education, the Central Arava Regional Council and the Eshkol Regional Council, with the assistance of JNF and the "Ayalim" association. The school received 180 children who are hosted together with their families in the Arava, and are taught by teachers from the schools in the cluster, educational staff from the Central Arava region, teaching NCOs and volunteers, in public buildings that have been converted into pleasant and comfortable classrooms. At the same time, a kindergarten and an early childhood center were also opened.
Health services were activated for the evacuated residents, and an appeal was made by the health department of the Council of Psychologists throughout the country to come and help and treat the mental aspect of those who experienced the atrocities, and in general have difficulty with the distance from home and with the unusual situation. In addition, a mobile of dentists from the Clalit Health Fund was invited, as well as volunteers to assist in this field.
Tourist sites have opened their doors to evacuees for free activities. At the Evelyn Leifer Sapir Sports Complex, they expanded the array of classes in order to provide an envelope for trainees from professional coaches from the Eshkol Regional Council. In this way, the organic groups continue their exercise routine, which contributes to their physical and mental health.
Middle Arava , students in the Arava cluster Photo: Inbal Harpaz,
In the "Middle Arava Kalika" co-working area, which is open free of charge every day, residents of the envelope continue their remote work under comfortable conditions, at work stations, office rooms and conference rooms.
And how does all this fit in with budgets?
The regional council established a war room to collect donations for the evacuees, so that the residents could continue to provide them with all their needs.
Maayan Zweig (45), from Moshav Sde Avraham, left home with her three children after 30 hours of terror in the safe room. Since then, she has been in the Willow compound in Ein Yahav in the Middle Arava region, while her husband Yoni remains in the alert squad to protect the moshav. "The council people take care of everything for us," she says, "they let us feel seen, as opposed to the state, which unfortunately did not manage to look at the needs of the evacuees who were forced to leave their homes at one moment, without knowing when they would be able to return.
"Although the state claims that it gives the residents of the envelope millions, in practice the funds go elsewhere, and this fact makes us feel needy and does not give us an appropriate response to the situation we find ourselves in. Without the kindness of the Arava residents and the great assistance we receive from the council members, I don't know how we would have managed."
Real Estate Supplement Today to be published on December 20, Graphics: Real Estate System Today,
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