Israel on the frontline of international aid
In 1958, Israel adopted an official humanitarian aid agenda as a principal element of the country's international cooperation efforts.
Sharing beyond borders
Within a decade of Israel's founding, the government and its people demonstrated a deep commitment to engage in humanitarian relief efforts and international development programs. In 1958, Israel adopted an official humanitarian aid agenda as a principal element of the country's international cooperation efforts. Over the years, the country has extended international humanitarian aid assistance to more than 140 countries, even to those who do not maintain diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.
Israel's humanitarian efforts formally began in 1958, with the establishment of MASHAV, as the Foreign Ministry's Center for International Cooperation, following the first visit of Foreign Minister Golda Meir to Africa. MASHAV assists countries striving to alleviate global problems of hunger, disease and poverty by providing technical training and sharing technology to improve quality of life. In the 1970s, Israel broadened its humanitarian aid agenda by granting safe haven to refugees and foreign nationals in distress - from Vietnam, Bosnia and Kosovo - and more recently from Darfur.
Also, since 1959, MASHAV has been sending Israeli eye-doctors to countries throughout the developing world to treat preventable blindness and ocular disease. The Israeli teams set up "eye camps", bringing with them extensive treatment equipment often unavailable in the country, and perform operations to restore sight, train local staff and often donate medical equipment at the end of their stay.
MASHAV, now Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation, is the body responsible for Israel's official humanitarian assistance program.
Sharing beyond borders
Within a decade of Israel's founding, the government and its people demonstrated a deep commitment to engage in humanitarian relief efforts and international development programs. In 1958, Israel adopted an official humanitarian aid agenda as a principal element of the country's international cooperation efforts. Over the years, the country has extended international humanitarian aid assistance to more than 140 countries, even to those who do not maintain diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.
Israel's humanitarian efforts formally began in 1958, with the establishment of MASHAV, as the Foreign Ministry's Center for International Cooperation, following the first visit of Foreign Minister Golda Meir to Africa. MASHAV assists countries striving to alleviate global problems of hunger, disease and poverty by providing technical training and sharing technology to improve quality of life. In the 1970s, Israel broadened its humanitarian aid agenda by granting safe haven to refugees and foreign nationals in distress - from Vietnam, Bosnia and Kosovo - and more recently from Darfur.
Also, since 1959, MASHAV has been sending Israeli eye-doctors to countries throughout the developing world to treat preventable blindness and ocular disease. The Israeli teams set up "eye camps", bringing with them extensive treatment equipment often unavailable in the country, and perform operations to restore sight, train local staff and often donate medical equipment at the end of their stay.
MASHAV, now Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation, is the body responsible for Israel's official humanitarian assistance program.