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Israel Ambassador to Kenya Gil Haskel handing over medical supplies to local officials

Thailand

During the past weeks Thailand has been facing severe floods which have affected large parts of the country causing great damages. Following an official request, MASHAV together with Israel’s National Water Company –Mekorot, dispatched a professional task team (Nov. 19th) focusing on draining the water flooding the capital, Bangkok. The Israeli experts will carry out its mission in cooperation with the local authorities. Further on, due to emergency situations following natural disasters, MASHAV has recently also assisted Cambodia, El Salvador and Guatemala.

The Horn of Africa

The drought afflicting the Horn of Africa region has left millions at the mercy of hunger, threatening the livelihoods of farmers and putting the lives of hundreds of thousands of children at risk. In response to this crisis, the Government and the people of Israel contributed in October 2011 to the World Food Program (WGP), supporting the delivery of food packages to Somali refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia.  One donated emergency food item was especially made for children -  known as Corn Soya Chickpeas Blend (CSB Plus), it includes heat treated maize, soya beans, chickpeas, vitamins, and minerals. Israel, through MASHAV, remains committed to provide immediate relief for African nations following major crises, such as the acute humanitarian situation now facing the Horn of Africa.

Kenya

A shipment of medical supplies was sent in September 15th, to Kenya to assist in treating casualties of the devastating fuel-line explosion in which over one hundred people died and hundreds were injured. As details of the disaster became known, Israeli ambassador to Kenya, Gil Haskel, offered Israel’s assistance to the heads of Kenyatta National Hospital, where most of the injured are hospitalized. MASHAV is the body responsible for coordinating Israel’s official humanitarian assistance program. As such, and using its vast experience in crisis response, it rapidly organized and dispatched medical supplies including more than 360 kg of medicines for treating burns, bandaging equipment, infusion sets, ointments and painkillers.

In a festive dinner organized by the Francophone Business Forum and in the presence of leading French and Israeli dignitaries, MASHAV received the Forum’s prestigious award. Speakers in the event expressed their wish to strengthen France and Israel’s economic and commerce ties.

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From left to right: Ambassador Daniel Carmon, Head of MASHAV; Mr. Sha Zukang, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs; Israeli Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms. Orit Noked; and Mr. Ilan Fluss, Director of MASHAV’s Policy Planning and External Relations Department Photo: Hillel Gabai, MFA

Towards the 2012 Rio+20 Conference, the Government of Israel through MASHAV and the Ministry of Agriculture, jointly with the Secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UN-DESA) co-organized in Israel (October 25-27) a High-Level Expert Group Meeting on Using Green Agriculture to Stimulate Economic Growth and Eradicate Poverty.

Some 70 delegates from 27 countries participated in the meeting, which purpose was to raise awareness of the central role that green and sustainable agriculture can play to stimulate economic growth and combat poverty through the sharing of know-how, best practices and lessons learned.

The opening statement was delivered by Mr. Sha Zukang, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, who stated that: “Israel has proven to be a leader in agricultural technology for development, practising innovation and implementing sustainable solutions for agricultural development, food security, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. They have informed and advised the Commission on Sustainable Development on matters related to integrated water management, drylands, and sustainable crop production. We have much to learn from the Israeli agricultural experience. I wish to commend the in-country experts here today for the dedication they have shown in organizing and contributing to this ambitious and interesting program. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank the Israeli Government for your continued leadership, commitment, and generosity. I look forward to our continued collaboration in the coming months as we prepare for Rio+20.”  

The conclusions of the Expert Group Meeting were summarized in an outcome document written collectively by the participants which will be presented as a contribution of the group to the Rio+20 preparatory process and will be incorporated in the compilation document to be submitted to the second Intersessional Meeting in December 2011.

The governments of Israel and of China’s Heilongjiang Province signed in September 2011 a cooperation agreement in the field of Dairy Husbandry. The aim of the agreement is to join efforts to contribute to the achievement of national and institutional goals of agricultural development in the dairy cattle sector. MASHAV will be in charge of implementing professional programs and activities including training and consultancies in dairy husbandry, and transfer of dairy farming technologies and technical assistance.

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Head of MASHAV Ambassador Daniel Carmon (right) and France's Ambassador to Israel HE Christophe Bigot sign aid cooperation agreement (Photo: MFA)

Israel and France signed (September 5th) a Declaration of Intent on a Partnership for Development Cooperation. The two parties declared their wish to establish a framework for collaborative efforts on programs and activities which shall commence by the end of 2011, enabling them to identify common interests and priorities. The objective of this cooperation is to enhance income generation, inclusive development and pro-poor growth. The first phase will include joint development activities in the fields of agriculture and irrigation, public health and gender to be implemented in Cameroon, Senegal, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Haiti. A steering committee composed of representatives from Israel and France, charged with monitoring implementation of the agreement and approving the work plans, will meet once a year.