December 7, 2010

 

Dear Members of the Board of Governors,

 

Over the past four days, the University has been operating in a state of emergency following the devastating fire on the Carmel Mountain. The blaze broke out in the Carmel National Park, in an area near the Druze village of Isifiya and rapidly spread to many surrounding areas. On more than one occasion, the fire came close to approaching our campus, posing significant danger to the University.

The fire has taken a heavy toll. It has already left more than 40 fatalities and others injured. More than 17,000 residents were evacuated from their homes. Several of the towns and communities in the Carmel were engulfed in flames, and thousands of hectares of forest were ravaged. The University of Haifa extends its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones in this tragedy and sends its hopes and prayers for recovery to those who have been injured.

The Carmel fire began on Thursday morning. By 2 pm the University made the decision to evacuate the campus, even though there was no immediate danger. The evacuation of 15,000 students and employees and 3,000 vehicles was completed in an orderly fashion by 3:30 pm.

The University's emergency administration worked around the clock to ensure the safety of the University community. Since the outbreak of the fire, the University served as the Emergency Central Command Headquarters for the police, firefighters and IDF authorities, all working from makeshift tent-offices from the parking lot of the Multi-Purpose Building.

The Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, visited the Central Command at the University of Haifa on three occasions during the event, receiving updates and status reports from the Security Forces and Authorities, including the Chief of Staff, the Chief of Police, the Chief of the Fire and Safety Division, and the head of the Magen David Adom.

The President of the State of Israel, Mr. Shimon Peres and a ministerial delegation including the Minister of Defense, Mr. Ehud Barak; Minister of Homeland Security, Mr. Yitzhak Aharonovitz; and Minister of the Interior, Mr. Eli Yishai, all came to the University campus to observe the spread of the devastating fire. Several members of the delegation, the Israeli media, and representatives of the Municipality of Haifa expressed their highest regard and praise for the assistance, operational and logistical expertise demonstrated by the University of Haifa staff.

In an update to the Knesset, the Minister of Homeland Security, Mr. Yitzhak Aharonovitz noted that the University decision to immediately evacuate the campus, even though no specific order to do so was received, "was among the initial decisions...that in retrospect, we know saved many lives."

It is important to note that the direction of the winds spared the University of Haifa from a major catastrophe. The University is situated within the Carmel Park and our campus is extremely vulnerable to the possibility of fire in the future. We must be fully aware of the possibility of this danger and further shore up the University's fire safety and prevention measures.

We are in urgent need of additional resources to implement further safety measures and fire prevention systems at the University. The University's international offices have launched an emergency campaign to raise $10 million for vital support, including upgrading the campus' fire-fighting equipment and capabilities, bringing campus facilities up to modern fire safety standards, and providing financial support and counselling services to students in need of emotional support.

The University's top priority continues to be the safety of its students and staff and we will do everything possible to continue ensuring their safety to the fullest extent in the future.

 

 

Sincerely,

Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze'ev

President

cc: Mr. Leon Charney, Chairman of the Board of Governors

Mr. Amos Gaver, Vice President of External Relations and Resource Development