While in Eilat, the State Comptroller met with representatives from communities including Nir Oz, Kerem Shalom, Nir Yitzhak, Ein Hashlosha, and Nirim. The State Comptroller listened to their accounts of destruction and heroic actions and learned about the disparities between their needs and the help provided to them. The State Comptroller was introduced to Eilat's urban preparedness and mobilization, which was highly praised by the refugees with whom the State Comptroller met.
At the beginning of the visit, the State Comptroller participated in the daily assessment meeting held by the Mayor of the City, Eli Lankri. Along with participants from police officers, emergency and rescue forces, the Home Front Command, and representatives from the Ministries of Welfare, Education, and Community. The State Comptroller received an overview of the city's urban preparedness and mobilization, which began with the establishment of a municipal assistance center that handles thousands of requests from southern and peripheral residents daily. Soroka Medical Center also played a crucial role, along with twenty-six emotional and psychological support centers initially staffed by local teams and later joined by teams from the Ministry of Welfare and the Ministry of Health.
Additionally, there are three medical centers in hotel facilities with the activation of Yoseftal Hospital and health funds, ten evacuation centers for the city's homeless network, three donation collection and distribution centers throughout the city, educational activities that were provided by the educational authorities in the municipality and are now offered by the Ministry of Education, and numerous private initiatives by organizations, businesses, and thousands of volunteers, embracing the southern and peripheral residents, as well as the thousands of soldiers protecting Eilat's vicinity.
Furthermore, the State Comptroller received a security briefing from the commander of the Eilat Police District and representatives from the Home Front Command and emergency and rescue forces in the city regarding the high level of preparedness. The Mayor emphasized that alongside the enormous urban mobilization for the benefit of the southern and peripheral residents, it is crucial to provide security for the city's residents and visitors, which requires the deployment of all military and police forces, including special units and more.
In the discussion, representatives from the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Education, who are visiting the city today, also participated. The State Comptroller received a briefing from Geula Nagari, who leads the Ministry of Education team in Eilat, appointed by the Education Minister to oversee the city's education administration. A representative from the Prime Minister's Office provided an overview of the TAKUMA administration established by the Prime Minister's Office to deal with the refugee and evacuated population and the digital system that consolidates all information, in addition to actions taken by the Economic Cabinet Forum.
The State Comptroller stated, 'In the past two and a half weeks, I have toured every possible location in the conflict areas in the north and south and met with refugees from five communities and kibbutzim in the Gaza periphery. Relevant government ministries need to act immediately to establish emergency committees in places where refugees are located to provide them with the optimum service. There is no justification for the relevant emergency committees to have not been established by the 18th day of the war.'
The state is dealing with a population unlike any other. In addition, there must be a focus on populations of the Gaza periphery communities and the Eshkol Regional Council, who have suffered greatly, especially Nir Oz, Kfar Aza, and Be'eri, and other communities that have experienced house destruction, terror attacks, and abductions by Hamas terrorists, in addition to other unimaginable traumas.
These communities require immediate attention and budget transfers. There is no room for bureaucratic delays in the current circumstances. We have encountered numerous difficulties and concerns from refugees regarding property compensation, and even assistance with matters such as organizing transportation for funerals in the central part of the country and purchasing hygiene products and basic necessities based on donations.
Government ministries are obliged to mobilize and provide immediate solutions.