Background:
On December 26, 2004, a massive earthquake in East Asia triggered two tsunami waves that devastated Sri Lanka’s coastlines, disrupting planned holiday celebrations. One day after the tragedy, emergency headquarters were established in Israel, working with international aid agencies and volunteers to assist the victims. Operation “Facing East” was launched, uniting Jewish communities worldwide to provide aid, turning the effort into a global Jewish project. This was NATAN’s first official operation.
Impact:
- Operation “Facing East”enabled community members to rebuild their local school, local businesses and housing units, thus rebuilding their lives with dignity.
- NATAN deployed approximately 50 volunteers from Israel, including doctors, nurses, psychologists, and experts in humanitarian aid, provided medical care, art therapy and post-trauma support.
- A damaged school was refurbished, and supplies were provided to students.
- Small businesses were revived with basic tools, repaired fishing boats, and restored inventories.
- A training center offered workshops in economics, business initiatives, and professional skills, involving volunteers from Israel to ensure long-term recovery for hundreds of small business owners.
Impact in numbers:
- 120,000 tons of food and 36,000 bottles of drinking water were distributed. Equipment to produce water from humidity was donated.
- 17,000 blankets and hundreds of tents were provided, along with field kitchens to serve thousands.
- 50 temporary housing units were built to protect survivors from monsoon rains, with local labor contributing to their rehabilitation.
- ~50 Israeli volunteers from Israel – all professionals – doctors, nurses, psychologists, and logistics experts
- 1 damaged school was refurbished, and supplies were provided to students
- $1,000,000 raised in donations – all of which was used in the field in this operation
