Israel prepares healthcare system for strong El Niño
Israel’s Ministry of Health held an exercise to prepare the system for a possible strong El Niño and other adverse weather events. As reported by the Jerusalem Post, the exercise tested the preparedness of medical and government services for floods, heavy snowfall and strong winds.
Scenarios for the healthcare system
Exercise participants practiced scenarios involving disruptions to electricity and water supplies, blocked transport routes, damage to buildings and the suspension of medical institutions’ operations. They also tested the capacity to provide assistance to vulnerable population groups.
Representatives of hospitals, health funds, the Magen David Adom ambulance service, the Fire and Rescue Service, the Home Front Command and the National Emergency Management Authority took part in the exercise. Representatives of the ministries of energy, national security and social welfare also joined it.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Risks of flooding and disease
El Niño affects weather conditions around the world through warming in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, which changes atmospheric circulation and jet streams. For Israel and the Mediterranean region, this usually means wetter winters and more intense storms.
According to the publication, forecasters believe this year’s El Niño could be exceptionally strong and potentially become the most powerful on record. Due to the strength of this weather phenomenon, Israel may see heavier precipitation as early as the beginning of autumn, while cities located closer to sea level face a higher risk of flooding.
The exercise also considered the consequences of extreme weather and climate change for public health, including a possible increase in cases of rabies, West Nile fever and other diseases. The Jerusalem Post notes that August was tied with another month as the month with the highest global temperature since records began, while the planet’s average temperature exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius.
