IDF clinic in Japan commences work

Members of the Israeli aid mission to Japan held a status evaluation on Monday in the Miyagi Prefecture, which was hit hard by a devastating earthquake and tsunami more than two weeks ago.

The delegation, headed by Brigadier-General Shalom Ben Aryeh, discussed the current situation with Home Front Command Chief Yair Golan and Chief Medical Officer Nachman Ash.

It has begun setting up an Israeli clinic which includes orthopedics, surgical, and intensive care units as well as a delivery room and a pharmacy. It is scheduled to commence operations later on Monday.

Seven interpreters to assist team (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

Local medical officials visited the site on Monday.

The IDF clinic is slated to provide medical assistance to locals for a number of weeks. The 60-member delegation mainly consists of doctors and nurses from the Medical Corps. 

Setting up the clinic (Photo: AP)

The delegation includes 50 doctors and brought with it 62 tons of medical equipment and 18 tons of humanitarian aid, including some 10,000 coats, 6,000 blankets, 8,000 gloves and 150 portable toilets.

Seven Hebrew-speaking Japanese interpreters are helping the Israelis communicate with locals.

Home Front Command chief Golan said Saturday that the mission's primary goal is to provide humanitarian aid and ease the Japanese people's suffering.

He added that the IDF will withdraw the delegation in case there is fear the members' wellbeing is compromised.

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