MDA high alert costing NIS 2m. extra per day

The Magen David Adom emergency services organization warns the Knesset that it will need an emergency infusion of funds after the current war in Gaza because it is spending NIS 2 million ($580,000) per day beyond its usual operational budget to maintain the highest level of alert.

“Right now the cannons are still roaring and this is not the place to make budget requests from the government of Israel. However, keep in mind that MDA is not like other security branches and is not funded by the state, and at the end of the fighting we plan to petition the government for assistance to find solutions to MDA’s budget for services so we can continue saving lives during emergency situations as well as day-to-day,” MDA director Eli Bin told a special session of the Knesset Labor, Welfare and Health Committee yesterday in Ashdod.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies tweets that MDA now maintains 1,000 vehicles on call on a 24/7 basis.

1,000 @Mdais emergency vehicles now on call 24/7 in #Israel. MDA has so far treated 422 people w/ stress reactions + 163 w/ minor injuries

— IFRC (@ifrc) July 31, 2014

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— Melanie Lidman