NATAL continues to provide immediate and long-term support to those suffering from trauma as a result of terror and war.

12 pm, Thursday 18th August: 8 Israelis killed, more than 30 injured following a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Eilat, near the Israeli-Egyptian border.
Friday morning, August 19th, 2011: A rocket fired at Ashdod this morning exploded in a haredi yeshiva left two critically injured, and more than 10 people moderately injured.

“Since last night, our Hotline has been working in emergency mode 24/7 as dozens of distressed calls come in” NATAL’s Hotline Manager

 
Saturday evening 20th August: 38-year-old Yossi Shoshan from Ofakim, dies from injuries after a Grad rocket directly struck a home in southern city of Be’er Sheva, 26 people are being treated for shock.

“I am very scared but I try not to show it, I try to be strong, but I am trembling…” Mother of 8 year old child, Ashkelon

Wednesday evening 24th August: A rocket fired at Ashkelon exploded near a house in a kibbutz in the Ashkelon region. A 9-month-old baby was hit by glass splinters and sustained light to moderate wounds.

NATAL’s Response

HOTLINE: 19th – 21st August showed an increase of 300% in callers to our Hotline. Most calls were received from 3 specific population sectors: 1) Parents and children, 2) Soldiers and parents of soldiers & 3) Civilians from southern communities.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH UNIT: The Unit continues to conduct home visits to families in the towns of Ofakim and Sderot and to work with distressed children from kindergartens to elementary schools at Kibbutzim surrounding Gaza.

PUBLIC AWARENESS: During this emergency, our toll-free Hotline is continuously displayed in the main Israeli news channels and interviews with our professionals are being broadcasted on TV. Yesterday, Channel 2 filmed NATAL’s Community Outreach Unit working in Ofakim.

NATAL is aware of the current escalation in violence, and is prepared for transition from routine activities to emergency mode, all across Israel.

Thursday night: Grad and Qassam rockets fired in south:

Three Qassam rockets were shot at the western Negev communities overnight. Emergency sirens were sounded, civilians are called to remain close to bomb shelters at all times.

12 pm, Thursday 18th August: 8 Israelis killed, more than 30 injured following a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Eilat, near the Israeli-Egyptian border

A series of well-planned attacks executed by terrorists who crossed from Gaza into Sinai killed 8 Israelis and injured more than 30. The attack prompted Israeli bombing raids overnight on Gaza. Tension continues to escalate there.

This past weekend has seen an escalation in violence as more than 80 rockets were fired into southern Israel from Gaza, killing one person and injuring a large number of people. Rockets continue to target southern communities as we write to you. At this time, NATAL is catering to the needs of the men, women and children that are suffering from shock, secondary trauma and symptoms of oncoming PTSD – in the field.

Sunday morning, 21st August: More than six rockets hit near city of Ashkelon, Grad rocket hits empty school building- Emergency sirens heard on an ongoing basis. Earlier Sunday morning, six rockets and a barrage of mortar shells hit near the city of Ashkelon, one of which damaged a building. No injuries were reported in the attacks.

10 Grad and Qassam rockets fired at southern areas, two men seriously wounded, 10 injured

A rocket fired at Ashdod this morning exploded in a haredi yeshiva left two critically injured, and more than 10 people moderately injured. Furthermore, a rocket landed near a Synagogue in Ashdod however, failed to explode.

Later Friday morning: Continuous Grad and Qassam rockets rain down in Ashddod, Ashkelon, Be’er Sheva and Kiriyat Gat

-   One of the missiles hit a building in an Ashdod industrial park, wounding six people, one of them seriously.
-   A suicide bomber exploded and killed and injured a number of Egyptians on the Egyptian side of the border with Israel.
Thursday night: Grad and Qassam rockets fired in south:

Three Qassam rockets were shot at the western Negev communities overnight. Emergency sirens were sounded, civilians are called to remain close to bomb shelters at all times.

12 pm, Thursday 18th August: 8 Israelis killed, more than 30 injured following a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Eilat, near the Israeli-Egyptian border
A series of well-planned attacks executed by terrorists who crossed from Gaza into Sinai killed 8 Israelis and injured more than 30. The attack prompted Israeli bombing raids overnight on Gaza. Tension continues to escalate there.

When outsiders visit Israel, they often comment that the atmosphere in the tiny country feels like a giant, continuous party. The sun, beach and Israeli laid-back attitude help ferment the image of a country at odds with its media presentation as war-torn.

But the truth, as always, lies somewhere in the middle.

Israelis may often act like life is a party, but according to NATAL, Israel’s Trauma Center for Victims of Terror and War, the compulsory army service and constant threat of terrorism and war lead to large numbers of people suffering from trauma.

NATAL calls it “National Trauma.”

For more details please see http://bit.ly/nNBxE0