The Jewish Agency’s Terror Victims Fund announced today (Thursday) that it has decided to provide immediate emergency aid to civilians harmed by Hamas terror attacks, in the form of 4,000 NIS per family for dealing with urgent needs.
According to the Fund, “so far, some 2500 families around the country have received aid. The aid is provided to families harmed in the murderous events […] and yes, for families harmed by rocket fire around the country.”
“The aid is received by families of kidnapped and missing civilians, families who lost their loved ones in the murderous terror, families whose relatives were wounded in the terror events and were hospitalized, and families whose home was directly hit and who cannot remain at home.”
Long-Term Recovery Grants of Up to 25,000 NIS
The Fund stressed that in addition to the immediate monetary aid of 4,000 NIS, the Jewish Agency’s Fund would be transferring long-term grants to terror victims of up to 25,000 NIS for a period of up to three years since the attack, as well as ongoing accompaniment of children and youth during the year.
In light of the enormity of the disaster, the Fund is preparing to support victims over a longer period of time and in other areas – both bureaucratic and more significant support for strengthening youth and children exposed to these incomprehensible events.
“Dealing for the first time with terror victims we didn’t know”
The Jewish Agency’s Terror Victims Fund was formed in 2002 during the Second Intifada. It has aided some 9,000 families in Israel and operated until today primarily based on donations from the Jewish Agency’s two main partners – the Jewish Federations of North America and Keren Hayesod. The Fund is headed by Chairperson Ayelet Nachmias Verbin.
She stated that: “In the most difficult days in Israeli history, it is a great privilege to provide aid to terror victims thanks to the strong connection of Jewish communities to the Jewish Agency’s Terror Victims Fund. I meet communities on the Perimeter every day and share their difficult sense of grief.”
According to her, “We are dealing for the first time with terror victims we didn’t know of – missing and kidnapped, and providing an immediate response to the families. We will continue to accompany them at the Fund in the future in order to support the process of rebuilding these wonderful communities – mentally and physically.”
She added that “the feeling of solidarity of Jewish communities in North Africa and the Keren Hayesod communities is exceptional and will help us restore the victims in particular and Israeli society as a whole.”
Jewish Agency chairman Doron Almog said: “The Jewish communities around the world stand with Israel at this difficult hour. The Jewish Agency’s Terror Victims Fund, which operates based on donations from the world and from Israel and which provides immediate aid to families harmed by the murderous terror actions of Hamas, is another expression of this global solidarity.”
He added that “the Jewish Agency is enlisting with all its strength, with the aid of world Jewry and especially the Jewish Federations of North America and Keren Hayesod, to strengthen the heroes of the settlements of the Perimeter and all the residents of the State of Israel.
To receive aid, contact the Jewish Agency Terror Victims Fund via phone (02-620-4444) or email (vot@jafi.org).