Following a “quiet” period of six months, there is currently a barrage of rockets falling all over southern Israel. While this situation is not new for our Israeli citizens in Sderot and the surrounding Yishuvim, for cities like Ashkelon, Kiryat Gat, Kiryat Melachi and Netivot, this is a relatively new experience.
The supervisors of the Emunah day care centers in these cities are remaining impressively calm. Yehudith Langster, the supervisor of the Emunah day care centers in Kiryat Gat and Ashkelon, says that the staff have all been trained in how to deal with these attacks and are now putting this knowledge into action. Yehudith explained that everyone knew this was coming, and since October, the babies in the Ashkelon day care center have been in a shelter and that for the past two weeks none of the children have been allowed to play outside. For some children who are part of the multipurpose day care program, this means that they are indoors form 7 am to 7 pm, a long time for a young child. The children are also learning what to do in the event of an alarm- they already know where to ruin and what to bring with them. The staff is coping wonderfully and everyone is hoping that soon things will calm down again.
Meanwhile in Sderot, where the citizens of the city have been dealing with such attacks for 8 years, Tammy Beck and the staff at the Emunah family counseling center are waiting for orders from the Home front command about what emergency services they should be providing. They are also waiting to hear whether they should open their doors at all, as staying closed will encourage the people to stay in their homes, although it will stop them from getting the help that they so sorely need from the experienced staff.
The crisis Hotline which was originally opened for Sderot citizens has now been expanded to serve the neighboring settlements as well. The Hot Line is operated by a trained staff of professionals and volunteers who have undergone the required training to deal with people in traumatic situations. The Hot Line offers support and guidance to children, teenagers and adults.
The professional staff in the Emunah Family Counseling Centers in the south of Israel has also been increased in order to assist the inhabitants who are now in a war situation.
Liora Minka, Chairperson of Emunah – Israel stated that Emunah will continue to come to the assistance of the residents of the settlements around Gaza and called on Emunah members to continue to volunteer in order to help those in Sderot and the surroundings. “We pray for the welfare of the IDF soldiers and for the citizens of the southern part of the country," she said.
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