Melbourne Jewish Community's
Emergency Agency
Activated During Quake Crisis
 

The Jewish community's Emergency Management Plan (JEMP) was activated on Sunday night within moments of the news of the Asian tsunami crisis.

Within a few hours JEMP personnel, using the combined resources of New South Wales and Victorian Community Security Groups (CSG) as well as others, had compiled a list of over 130 Australian Jews who were known to be in India, Sri Lanka and Thailand and had made contact with almost all of the people on the list.

As of this date there were still four persons on the list yet to be accounted for.

Ronnie Figdor of JEMP said that of those contacted all, except for four, were uninjured.

Two Australian Jews were said to be lightly injured and the injuries of the other two was not known.

JEMP made contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Quake Crisis Hotline and had passed on the results of their efforts to DFAT.

A representative of DFAT called JEMP on Tuesday night saying how useful the list was and expressed appreciation for JEMP's efforts.







Mr Figdor said that JEMP were most concerned for the welfare of Nikola (Nikki) Jane Liebowitz (aged 30) and Avadya Berman (aged 31), who had been seen at the Phi Phi Princess Resort some 25 minutes before the wave hit.

Despite a possible sighting of Avadya by a British tourist after the tsunami, he had not made contact with his sister in Sydney .

While both Nikola and Avadya were South African nationals, Nikola had made Sydney, Australia her permanent residence earlier this year and Avadya had recently become an Australian permanent resident.
 

JEMP was launched by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services in October 2001 to deal with major emergencies affecting the Jewish community in Victoria and acts as a support agency to emergency services.

An official launch for JEMP in NSW is expected in 2005.

A technical committee comprising the heads of the Community Security Group, Hatzolah, a representative from the Country Fire Authority, State Emergency Service, Police and community representatives, meets fortnightly and would be reviewing its role in the Asian quake crisis at its next meeting.


More information about JEMP can be found at its website www.jemp.org.au

Mr Figdor would like to hear from anyone who may have information about Jewish Australians who were in the affected areas.

For further details or current information, contact Ronnie Figdor on 03-9525 9742 or 0414 775 081.