Since the beginning of Operation Roaring Lion, approximately 1,700 Israelis have been forced out of their homes and placed in hotels, the Tourism Ministry announced earlier this week.
The ministry added that nearly 950 hotel rooms were needed to house the evacuees.
One first aid center established in Beersheba after a missile strike hit a residential neighborhood has provided shelter to 1,083 people who were forced to evacuate their apartments, including 577 families and households who suddenly found themselves homeless.
Of these evacuees, 365 were relocated to the Leonardo Hotel in the city, while others sought refuge with family or used alternative housing options.
The Tourism Ministry has been assigned the task of coordinating and housing evacuees who have been forced out of their homes by Iranian missile strikes, as well as compiling an overview of tourists in Israel who are seeking to leave, so that outbound flights can be properly coordinated and prioritized.
"This is a complex and sensitive national mission," said Director General of the Tourism Ministry, Michael Izhakov.
"Under the directive of Minister Haim Katz, we are operating around the clock to provide a swift and professional response both to tourists seeking to depart Israel and to evacuees in need of accommodation. The employees of the Ministry of Tourism have mobilized with full commitment, working in cooperation with government ministries, local authorities, and various sectors of the tourism industry to ensure a humane and professional response during this challenging period.”
Jewish Agency for Israel launches fund for those affected by war
An independent campaign launched by the Jewish Agency for Israel is designed to help alleviate the financial burden of those affected by the war with Iran.
The initiative is called the Roaring Lion Fund and is aimed at those who, as a result of Iran's missile attacks, have lost loved ones, been injured, or have been forced to evacuate their homes. Each eligible family will automatically receive an emergency grant of NIS 4,000.
"The Jewish Agency’s Roaring Lion Fund embodies our community's deepest commitment to mutual responsibility."
Mark Wilf, Chairman of the Board of Governors of The Jewish Agency, said. "In moments of profound crisis, such as the current war, we show up for one another without hesitation. This powerful gesture of solidarity from world Jewry to the Israeli people serves to strengthen resilience and forge meaningful bonds of connection. This is how we rise - together - and emerge stronger than before.”
The fund was made possible by donors, including The Jewish Federations of North America, Keren Hayesod, and World Zionist Organization.
Latet distributes emergency kits to evacuees
Another organization providing aid during the Israel-Iran war is Latet Israeli Humanitarian Aid, which began providing emergency assistance to those affected.
Latet distributed emergency kits to evacuated families and individuals staying in protected spaces, with the kits containing food, hygiene products, bottled water, and games for children. Thousands of kits have also been deployed for home-bound seniors and families evacuated to hotels.
Gilles Darmon, Latet's Founder and President, said that Latet was working closely with local authorities and the IDF Home Front Command to coordinate the distribution of its emergency kits.
"Last night, we began deploying them and providing initial assistance to families evacuated from their homes due to the Iranian missile attacks. Today, we are continuing and expanding our efforts in response to needs emerging from the field, as part of an organized operational framework for delivering primary social emergency relief."
Rami Shani contributed to this report.