100 Israelis in Nepal still not contacted

Israel is attempting to contact every Israeli currently in Nepal to inquire about their well-being and to enable anyone wishing to return home to do so, as well as to help as much the Nepalese people as possible in this trying time, a statement from the Foreign Ministry says.

Planes will bring to Israel all babies born to surrogate mothers in the next day, the statement said. The ministry says approximately 40 percent of babies born to surrogate mothers have already landed or are being flown today.

Most of the effort at the moment revolves around rescuing Israelis stranded in remote locations in Nepal. The Foreign Ministry says it hired helicopters and rescue vehicles wherever they are available. Some 100 Israelis have still not been contacted, the ministry says.

After a main airport in Nepal reopened Israel sent two planes with aid and medicine and two other jumbo-size aircraft will take off soon. On their way back, these planes will bring home Israeli hikers from Nepal. The ministry says Israel hopes fly the planes back home full of passengers. They will not need to pay to fly back to Israel.

There are 500 Nepalese nationals in Israel, the ministry said. According to the statement, the homes of 165 of them were ruined in the quake. The Foreign Ministry is trying to contact their families. Former Israeli ambassador to Nepal Hanan Goder is helping in this matter.