An Israeli humanitarian organization will bring a group of children from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Israel for life-saving heart surgeries.
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Haim Taib, president of Save a Child's Heart Africa, made the announcement at a state dinner hosting DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and President Isaac Herzog in late October, The Times of Israel reported.
Following his life-saving treatment in #Israel, Ameyeron is ready to return to #Ethiopia this week with a healthy heart (and a cool scar to match 😎)@ethembis @IsraelinET 🇮🇱 🤝 🇪🇹 pic.twitter.com/rl3JE1vvi8
— Save a Child's Heart (@SaveChildsHeart) October 11, 2021
According to Taib, five children between the ages of one and 12 will be flown to Israel in three weeks and treated at the Wolfson Medical Center south of Tel Aviv.
"I told [Tshisekedi] I was donating the funds for five children to come to Israel at our expense," Taib said. "He became very emotional," The Times of Israel reported.
As the founder of the Mitrelli Group – an international group of subsidiaries that collaborates with governments for nation development – Taib specializes in improving living conditions and saving lives in Africa.
According to The Times of Israel, Tshisekedi responded to the gesture by committing to a special order that would enable SACH to bring the children to Israel quickly.
Israel has recently strengthened ties with DR Congo, even as Tshisekedi's critics accuse the leader of being the ideological successor of his predecessor Joseph Kabila. Kabila was accused of stoking ethnic tensions and stealing money before stepping down in 2018 amid major protests.
Herzog added that the Israeli government "supports unconditionally" Tshisekedi's leadership, according to The Times of Israel report.
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The SACH organization will arrange the children's travel from DR Congo to Israel and their course of treatment once medical documents are acquired.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
