Shalva becomes a safe haven for people with disabilities fleeing rockets

The last 24 hours in Israel have been tense: following Operation Breaking Dawn, Israelis are facing Gaza rocket attacks, with sirens sounding in the central and southern part of the country, reaching as far as Judean mountains on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
As is the case, the residents of the south are affected first and the most. Missile attacks are especially challenging to people with disabilities, who cannot reach hideouts within the given period of a few seconds. In response to the crisis, Shalva National Center has opened its doors to children with disabilities and their families.
Shalva’s Founder and President, Kalman Samuels, added: “Helping families with children with disabilities is embedded in Shalva’s DNA. And what help can be more essential than possibly saving a human life? We are ready, and we are glad to be able to provide shelter, in the most caring way.”
“People with disabilities are more vulnerable than the general population during life-threatening and traumatic situations due to their limited mobility,” – said Yochanan Samuels, Chief Executive Officer of Shalva. “The Shalva National Crisis Response Center is ready to provide people with disabilities with a comprehensive, immediate response to their needs during periods of national crisis; including physical safety, rehabilitative stability, as well as social and emotional support.”
Shalva National Center has expansive disability assessive bomb shelters and adjacent respite quarters and is Israel‘s official National Crisis Response Center for Persons with Disabilities. Currently, it is hosting a number of families from Ashkelon and the surroundings.
"My daughter is traumatized. She can't hear the sound of sirens anymore. Because of the situation, I turned to the Ministry of Social Affairs and asked that they evacuate us to a quiet and safe place," – shared a mother who fled the attacks all the way from Ashkelon.
"I am here with two children in wheelchairs with CP. I don't have a fortified room, and no pending approvals for fortified rooms," – said another parent who was evacuated to Shalva. "Even though all we wanted was peace, at Shalva, we also got a lot of love, acceptance, and safety."