ZAKA DELEGATION IN HAITI SEARCHING FOR MISSING JEWISH CANADIAN

In the evening hours Israel time, the Israel-based ZAKA rescue and recovery organization received a request for help from the Canadian family of Alexander (Shmuel) Bitton, who had just arrived at the Montana Hotel in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake struck.

 

The ZAKA Jerusalem headquarters forwarded the details to the ZAKA delegation in Haiti which is working with the IDF Home Front Command and the search for Bitton will commence today (Tuesday).

 

ZAKA hotline volunteer Ya’acov Vag: “We received detailed information about the missing person and the location of the hotel. In addition, we have a first-hand account from his colleague Martin who was in the hotel with Alex and last saw him at the hotel reception. Martin had already received his room and Alex asked him to come down to reception to help him with a problem at the check-in. Martin came downstairs, the problem was solved and he returned to his room. Afterwards, he went to the poolside bar where he arranged to meet Alex. When the earthquake happened, Martin was still by the pool, some 10-12 minutes after he saw Alex for the last time.”

 

The ZAKA delegation in Haiti, the first Israeli delegation to arrive in the disaster area, rescued 8 survivors injured but alive from the collapsed university building at the weekend. However, rescue teams in Haiti are realistic about the chances of finding survivors in the rubble at this stage.

Donate now to the ZAKA Haiti fund