President Reuven Rivlin on Sunday evening 7 Iyar spoke with senior IDF Homefront Command officer Brig.-Gen. Yoel Strick, as he prepared to send a team of 260 search and rescue, and medical professionals from Israel to the disaster area in Katmandu, Nepal.

The President said, “My blessings go to all the team undertaking this brave and humanitarian mission. I am proud of you and your staff for their speedy and impressive enlistment at such a time of need. This delegation of ‘messenger angels’ represents the universal values, in the spirit of our people and our country, and through you, I wish to thank each and every one of them.”

Brig.-Gen. Strick explained that the first plane had already landed at its destination, during the subsequent earthquake which occurred today. He shared with the President that he had received hundreds of applications from those of all professions and rescue groups, who wanted to be dispatched on this important aid mission. He said, “We have set out on a mission which symbolizes all that the IDF stands for, and we a greatly proud of this.”

Strick thanked the President for his kind words, and said he would pass them on to the members of the delegation.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)