CARMEL FIRE UPDATE

On Thursday 2nd December, as the fire raged on Mount Carmel, the University of Haifa made a management decision to avoid unnecessary risk and evacuate the campus. The University management is maintaining ongoing contact with the authorities and is closely monitoring the situation.

  • There was a very orderly evacuation of over 15000 students, faculty and staff. Following an official announcement, all present had left the campus safely within two hours.

  • The International School worked in coordination with the Haifa Municipality and found homes for its students in the Haifa area. They joined forces with other organizations, including synagogues in the area, and Conservative and Reform Movements. Students were invited to spend Shabbat with host families. The International School is maintaining contact with all its students and ensuring that all their needs are being met.

  • Students living in the dormitories and soldiers who live on campus (Havetzelot Program) were also safely evacuated.

  • The University is serving as the Emergency Central Command for all forces, including the Police, Firefighters, Government, and IDF authorities.

  • As of Friday morning, the University is closed until further notice.

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Even at this early stage, the University is able to draw immediate conclusions from this major course of events:

  1. There is a critical need to further bolster fire prevention and safety measures outside of the University campus. These would include the newest and most effective protection technologies to minimize damage in the event of a major emergency.

  2. Safety measures and evacuation strategies for public areas within the campus, such as the Hecht Auditorium, the Hatter Student Building, and open spaces such as the Rieger Café and Garden, need to be revisited and upgraded.

  3. The University Library, which houses one of Israel's most valuable and precious book and manuscript collections, requires special fire protection and prevention measures.

  4. The Eshkol Tower was one of the first buildings constructed on campus over 30 years ago and part of its safety infrastructure is in need of renovation. There is an immediate need to upgrade 16 floors within the Eshkol Tower to ensure full compliance with fire safely regulations and building codes.

We urgently need your help, now, to ensure the future safety of our students, and of the university. Please help us.

All donations will go directly to help fight this disaster and to prevent it spreading further by buying the fire safety equipment we desperately need.

Please donate and help us now!

All donations to BRITISH FRIENDS OF HAIFA UNIVERSITY ( address below ) or direct to:

BANK HAPOALIM SRT CODE:56-00-75 A/C NO: 20447101
A/C BRITISH FRIENDS OF HAIFA UNIVERSITY
REF: FIRE APPEAL

 

 

 

Thank you

Jack Raymond ג 'ק ריימונד

Executive Director
British Friends of Haifa University
Registered Charity no: 270733
26 Enford Street
London W1H 1DW
T: 020 7724 3777
M; 07943 170151