Tent city locations ready for potential war evacuees

Vilna'i: In event of war, 24,000 people to be housed in tents near Eilat, in areas near Park Timna, Pundak 101 and Arava Regional Council territory.

By YAAKOV KATZ
tents TA 224.88 (photo credit: Orna Dickman)
tents TA 224.88
(photo credit: Orna Dickman)
Home Front Defense Minister Matan Vilna’i revealed on Monday that the government had selected the location for the establishment of a tent city for residents of northern and central Israel who would flee their homes from Hezbollah and Syrian missile attacks in the event of a future war.
He spoke ahead of the fifth anniversary of the Second Lebanon War.
On Monday, Vilna’i and Construction and Housing Minister Ariel Attias and their senior staff flew down to the Arava desert to visit the site. IDF estimates that hundreds of thousands of Israelis could potentially flee their homes – particularly residents of northern Israel.
During the Second Lebanon War in 2006, the government failed to organize the evacuation of residents from northern towns as well as the establishment of tent cities to house the evacuees.
“Tens of thousands of people will be housed here during a future war,” Vilna’i said. “The government’s job is to do everything possible to postpone a war but we need to be prepared for one in case it might erupt.”
Vilna’i’s office said 24,000 people would be housed in tents near Eilat in open areas near Park Timna, Pundak 101 and within territory under the jurisdiction of the Arava Regional Council.
“The resilience of the home front is critical for Israel to succeed in a future military conflict and this demands of the government to be prepared for all contingencies,” Attias said.


Related Tags
Second Lebanon War