MDA opens hotline to help sick, elderly in the cold

MDA crews assists those caught unprepared by weather; first winter storm cuts power to Safed neighborhoods; tugboats bring Turkish ship to port.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
snow sun tree 311 (photo credit: AP)
snow sun tree 311
(photo credit: AP)
Amidst the winter season's first major storm, Magen David Adom announced Sunday a joint project with the Interior Ministry to help bring warmth to the homes of Israel's elderly and infirm.
MDA opened a special telephone hotline on Sunday for elderly Israelis and the sick who need assistanceand perhaps a warm meal due to the winter weather available at the number 1-700-500-430. It has been decided to keep the hotline open from Sunday until Monday operating between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.
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The goal of the operation is to reduce the number of Israelis who will suffer from frostbite or other cold-related ailments due to the recent plunge in temperatures and storm weather.
In northern Israel on Sunday, several neighborhoods in Safed lost power as strong winds downed power lines around the city.
Israel Electric Corporation crews were expected to begin restoring power to city neighborhoods in the later hours of the afternoon.
Along the coast's high waves and stormy sea, a Turkish-owned ship operating a regular shipping route between Israel and Turkey was beached Sunday near the port of Ashdod due to strong winds.
Israeli tugboats were called out and succeeded in bringing the ship into the port.
Earlier on Sunday, a police officer from Hadera and a Caesarea development inspector were both lightly injured on Sunday when a tree knocked down by storm winds hit their car during a patrol in Caesarea.
The two were brought to Hillel Hospital in Hadera and were released after receiving treatment. 
In addition to more minor injuries, one storm fatality was recorded. The body of a middle-aged Russian tourist who disappeared from a Netanya beach amidst high waves on Saturday was discovered by rescue services Sunday morning.