NII panel to deal directly with Burgas victims

NII deputy director Ilana Schreibman will head the committee, which will work around the clock in the coming weeks.

By RUTH EGLASH
People react to Bulgaria bombing 390 (photo credit: REUTERS)
People react to Bulgaria bombing 390
(photo credit: REUTERS)
National Insurance Institute director-general Prof. Shlomo Mor-Yosef established an emergency committee on Thursday to help provide speedy help to the victims of the Burgas terror attack and their families.
NII deputy director Ilana Schreibman will head the committee, which will work around the clock in the coming weeks to ensure that all victims and their families receive the health, welfare and financial benefits available to victims of terrorism.
On Thursday, NII representatives arrived in Burgas, Bulgaria, together with Foreign Ministry staff to assess the needs of more than 30 Israeli tourists who were wounded on Wednesday afternoon when their bus exploded just outside the airport in Burgas on the Black Sea coast. The NII said it would also provide support to the many more people not physically injured but who flew back to Israel on Thursday.
In addition, the NII will pay the cost of airline tickets for relatives of the two Israelis still hospitalized in critical condition in Sofia. Two family members left for Sofia on Thursday morning and additional relatives are being helped by the NII.
For those returning to Israel on Thursday, NII rehabilitation specialists will be on hand at Ben-Gurion Airport to assess their needs.
“We are operating our emergency procedures at the moment,” a spokesman from the NII said. “We are ready to offer therapy and support to all those who were involved in the attack, including those who were not injured physically.”
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The spokesman also said that the NII was also preparing to help with the burial arrangements of the five Israelis who had been confirmed dead and identified by authorities. Within this framework, the NII has approved airline tickets for family members of one victim who is from Madrid.
The Organization of Israel’s Terror Victims released a statement condemning the attack: “The fact is that Israelis, who wanted a vacation, who wanted to enjoy, laugh, relax and forget the daily grind were instead injured or killed just because they are Jews and Israelis,” said the organization, sending condolences to the families of those killed and wishes for a speedy recovery to those who were wounded.