Health services prepare for emergency situation as northern front intensifies

Welfare and health services are preparing for the intensified exchanges between Hezbollah and the IDF in the north, the Health Ministry and Welfare and Social Affairs Ministry announced on Sunday.

Following the intensified rocket barrage fired by Hezbollah toward Israel’s north, the Health Ministry announced that several hospitals and medical centers will operate in sheltered areas. The medical centers, Carmel, Ziv, The Galilee Medical Center, Emek, Tzafon, and the Italian Hospital in Haifa will all operate within sheltered areas. The Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa is also set to move operations to a secure space, according to the ministry’s announcement.

On Sunday, the Bnai Zion Hospital in Haifa released several patients whose hospitalization was deemed "unnecessary," according to the hospital's vice president, Danny Stienburg.

The decision was made following consultations with the Director General of the Health Ministry, hospital management, and the Home Front Command.

In a later announcement, the Welfare and Social Affairs Ministry reported that it has enhanced its emergency response efforts and prepared evacuation facilities. Additionally, the Ministry has strengthened its network of social workers.

Opening situation rooms across the country

Furthermore, in response to the escalating security situation in the north and to ensure the safety of citizens in affected areas, the ministry has initiated emergency protocols such as opening situation rooms across the country and designating evacuation facilities.

Moreover, learning from evacuation efforts following October 7, when no governmental provisions were made to assist in evacuating people with movement-related impairments, the Welfare and Social Affairs Ministry announced that accessible transportation, also for the elderly, is part of the new emergency protocols.

The ministry also emphasized that community services in local authorities that have not been evacuated will continue to operate following Home Front Command directives. The ministry stressed that welfare facilities are prepared with emergency supplies for approximately 72 hours, including generators, food, and medicine.

Moreover, the Welfare and Social Services hotline operates 24/7, and people with concerns or questions may contact the ministry either through the hotline at 118 or via WhatsApp at https://wa.me/050-2270118.