On Sunday, 28th December, 2008, as part of themilitary operation Oferet Yetzuka - Cast Lead, the cabinet approved atnoon the beginning of Melah, an emergency economic program, in the Gazaperiphery communities, along with the mobilization of thousands ofreservists, who are being called up primarily in anticipation of apotential ground attack.
We spoke with Ami Uliel, director of KKL-JNF's Southern Region, about emergency measures at all sites within missile range.
"We are following the instructions of the Home Front Command andaccordingly, we have distanced workers from those regions that areclose to the Gaza border and are within the range of the Kassammissiles. As a result, work on three projects has stopped:
Forestersfrom the Eshkol and Shikma regions and from the forests that border onthe Gaza Strip have been transferred to other work sites that are outof range of the missiles."
A discussion on emergency measures in the south was held todaywith Dr. Tzvika Avni, director of Afforestation. The Southern Regionhas been placed on forest fire alert and is prepared to extinguishforest fires that might break out as a result of missiles falling inopen spaces. The Southern Region is also in constant contact with IDFforces in the region in order to jointly prevent damage to forests andsites owing to the military deployment.
Uliel noted that "we need to set up three protected securityrooms in the southern region next to forest work centers so that assoon as there is a missile attack warning, we can protect our workers.
"In spite of the situation, all our employees, who live intowns and villages within range of the Kassam missiles, come to workand do their jobs beyond the call of duty. We are here and we will stayhere on behalf of the people and the environment."
For more information, please visit our website at www.kkl.org.il/eng or e-mail ahuvab@kkl.org.il
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