IDF Vets Evacuate Mexico City Kids

The Fellowship  |  September 25, 2017

Stand for Israel has kept you abreast of Israeli efforts to aid in the wake of devastation left by the latest earthquake to strike Mexico. And now, Ynet News’ Itamar Eichner shares this heartwarming story of IDF veterans volunteering in Mexico City who were able to evacuate children when disaster struck:

When the quake hit, the newly-discharged soldiers—some of whom served in elite units—never lost their cool and evacuated all 460 of the school’s students out of the building.

Alon Nissim, 27, from Jerusalem, recounted the events. “The quake caught us in the middle of an English lesson. All of a sudden, I and another member of our group standing next to me felt the entire building move like a house of cards. The children were really spooked and tried going down an iron staircase, which was overloaded with people, and then a commotion started. The stairs led to a basketball court, where we decided to round up the children,” he said.

“We noticed a cement staircase that was still free and took off running like madmen towards it while directing every kid we came across along the way to follow. As soon as we hit terra firma we started routing children to safe spots and calming them down, just like we would a platoon in the army. The children started crying and panicking. I ran to our room and got some water bottles and candy and started handing them out, while other members of my group started talking to the kids and calming them down,” Nissim added.

“I was on autopilot without thinking how much danger I was in. My only thought was for the kids and their families,” Nissim continued. “I’m filled with satisfaction and am prouder than ever of being Israeli. Everyone here is singing our praises, Israel’s praises. Everyone knows Israel is the first to come help when disaster strikes, even before the locals do, but this is probably a new record…”