The Foreign Ministry says 200 Israelis in Nepal have not yet made contact, adding that the majority of the backpackers are not thought to be in danger.
A number of Israelis sustained light injuries from the earthquake, it says.
The first Israeli aid plane lands in Kathmandu, and a Magen David Adom plane is expected in four hours.
Some 20 Israeli volunteers, from the ZAKA International Rescue Unit, United Hatzalah, and search and rescue specialists from F.I.R.S.T. will depart Israel later this afternoon.
An advance team took off from Israel just after midnight to assess needs. A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says the advance team “will land near the affected zone and make its preparations until it becomes possible to land in Nepal.”
The second flight was planned to include a team of 240 soldiers from the Home Front Command, who plan on working for at least the next two weeks in aiding rescue and recovery efforts for locals and Israelis there, according to Ynet news.
Besides offering aid to Nepal, the delegation will also provide Israelis “the means necessary to return to Israel,” the statement adds.
Separate flights of other aid organizations were also planned from Israel.
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From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
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