(JTA) After four years of diplomatic struggle, Israel's Zaka search-and-rescue volunteer organization was granted official advisory status by the UN Committee on NGOs on Tuesday, although this must still be approved by the UN Economic and Social Council. The vote followed dozens of meetings between Israeli diplomats and representatives of the UN and member states after the request had been rejected several times. Zaka assisted in the Nepal earthquake and Paris terror attacks in 2015; Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013; the tsunami and earthquake in Japan in 2011, and the earthquake in Haiti in 2010.
2016-01-29 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive