Invitation From The Consul General Of Israel In Miami To Go On A Mission To Israel With European And North American Mayors - Part II

After leaving the Ramat Gan emergency operation center we walked to a location that was directly hit by cluster bombs. They were one of the hardest hit by these types of bombs. The warhead actually opens in the air sending anywhere from 100 - 2000 smaller bomblets. The Germans designed them in WWII, and they are banned in over 111 countries.

The ban is due to the fact they cover areas as large as football fields and weather conditions may expand the area. Often the Bomblets do not detonate creating additional hazards to small children that may pick them up. The bomblets still have armor piercing capabilities.

The area where this bomb struck was residential. The building that took the direct hit stood across from a school, which was damaged and is now a grassy lot. The blast blew out windows around the building and could be felt within a five-block radius.

Thankfully, it happened at 6:30 a.m., before school children arrived. Many people were injured. Another bomb struck the top floor of a building where a couple was sitting in the living room.

I know where all have been seeing reports on TV, but you cannot understand the magnitude of what one bomb can do. It is also against so many laws that Iran is using this weapon against civilians carrying on their daily lives.

The Deputy shared that rebuilding has been essential since many structures are not to any current standard. There were many high-rise condominiums that had been built and the one hit was fairly new. The other major concern is housing those that are displaced. The town, actually, with state funding assistance housed many residents in a tower that was originally getting ready to open since it was not occupied yet. Others are out in hotels.

The city’s major goal is to have full access to bomb shelters for their residents. Currently when they are rebuilding it is mandatory to have a safe room or dedicated shelter area. Civic buildings are also built with larger shelters and even the new train station has been built as a multipurpose and outfitted for sheltering those that are unable to get shelter during the workday or simply out in the town.

They have also found it is not simply about the safety of the shelters but the operations. While in the shelter. Mental health is a huge issue for all ages. The shelters are planned with different areas that are either separate rooms or simply an area for scheduled activities for children.

The ceasefire is in place, and the city continues to move forward with many planning objectives. We were all amazed by the resiliency of the community.

As always, I am available anytime for your questions, concerns, and ideas to make our City a better place on my Phone/Text at: (954) 632-5700. Or you can email me at: jcooper@cohb.org. Please visit me on my Facebook page at: Mayor Joy Cooper. Like! Follow! And share!