According to a survey conducted by the Israel Association for Building Management, 80% of fortified areas and bomb shelters in apartment buildings are not ready for emergency use. This alarming number refers to structures in the center of the country, an area that is expected to be targeted by missiles in the event of a war.

According to Tamar Mintz, who chairs the organization, some of the public shelters require an overhaul before they can be rendered usable in the event of an emergency, citing shelters that are too old, outdated and have poor seals. The integrity of these structures is in question as a result. Some shelters have faulty or non-functioning plumbing or lack running water or a combination of the above and they are therefore not usable and some shelters are being used by tenants for storage or other purposes and are therefore not accessible.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)