The plight of the shelters and protected spaces continues to disturb the peace of the residents of Haifa

(Hai Fe) - The discourse surrounding Haifa's readiness for war is intensifying as the situation in the region worsens. Many residents in Haifa and Kiryat Haim are under daily pressures, with one of the main concerns being the lack of public shelters and protected spaces for everyone. The situation raises difficult questions, especially in light of the understanding that Haifa, a city that is in a permanent position of risk, is a target and despite this - few resources have been invested over the years in preparing it for such emergency situations.

Residents say that they have to deal not only with the anxiety of the war of attrition that has been going on for a year, but also with the uncertainty regarding where they will find shelter in case of an alarm. Concern is growing among residents of neighborhoods that do not have accessible public shelters, or among residents of old buildings that do not have emergency shelters.

Although the municipality and the Home Front Command provide instructions for defense in situations of attack, for many the options are limited. "We don't have a shelter in the building, and our only option is to go down to the stairwell," says a resident of the Hadar neighborhood. "It's not by choice, but because we have no other choice. The guidelines talk about minimal protection - a strong inner wall or lying next to a safe place - but this is not sufficient protection, especially not when there are small children."

Many parents are at a loss

The situation in the education system is even more difficult. "There are not enough protected spaces in the kindergartens and schools," says a mother with small children, "we are forced to leave the children at home, miss days of work, and all because of the lack of appropriate protection in the educational institutions. It is frustrating that there are no solutions even after 18 years since the Second Lebanon War. Everything What they have done is the construction of safety nets in new buildings and perhaps placing a number of shelters here and there for passers-by. But it's just not enough."

One of the most pressing issues raised is the inability of residents to access public shelters during an emergency. Residents of Kiryat Eliezer complained that the shelter on IDF Street was closed during the alarm. "We arrived at the shelter and were unable to open it," said one resident, "we had to stay outside during the alarm. It happened more than once."

A similar problem was also recorded in Kiryat Eliezer, when a public shelter on Olive Street was closed to residents due to the presence of a community policing point there. "At the time of the alarm, we arrive at the shelter and the police refuse to let us in, claiming that there are weapons there," said a resident of the neighborhood. According to him, a request to the municipality yielded an answer that the residents are indeed allowed to enter, but in reality the situation is different.

The situation is also bleak in Kiryat Haim where most of the buildings are old and there are not enough shelters or shelters. A resident of West Kiryat Haim tells Lahi Fe that the municipality is not preparing a shelter on Beit Alfa Street, which is now the center of Charna. According to her, in 2006 it was used as a shelter for the residents and today the Home Front Command said that the place is not suitable for use as a shelter since the windows were dismantled and inside the "shelter" there are mirrors that are used for a gym in a place rented by the municipality.

"I contacted the municipality numerous times along with other residents and the answer was that there is no budget at the moment to cover the windows and the door. Instead there is a toilet outside the building that is barely enough for a limited number. There are sick neighbors and those who suffer from phobias and the toilet is not a good idea. In the wave of alarms the other day the sight was shocking of a girl with pee In pants with fear and a mother shaking while holding a baby. A heart patient who does not go into the migunit because there is no air."

"We demand an answer and not to wait for a disaster to happen."

The situation is also serious in other neighborhoods

Residents of the Tashbi neighborhood, Hadar, as well as Arab and ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods in the city complain about a lack of shelters and public shelters that are not open in real time. According to residents of the Tashvi neighborhood, the shelter at the Gil school is closed even during emergency hours. Similar problems were also noted in the coastal neighborhoods, where there is a severe lack of protected spaces, which leaves residents in constant anxiety.

The prevailing feeling among the residents of Haifa is one of continuous neglect. While in other cities, such as Tiberias, residents say that the shelters were opened and shields were placed in public places immediately after the residents contacted the municipality, in Haifa the situation is different. The lack of protection in playgrounds and public areas, along with inaccessible shelters, leaves the residents with a sense of frustration and an unresolved question - how will they protect themselves and their children in an emergency?

Regarding the shelter or space in Kiryat Haim, the municipality responded: "This is not the MMD, but the space in Beit Charna, which was previously inspected by the Home Front Command and disqualified from being used as a shelter because it is not sufficiently protected. In the meantime, the municipality placed a standard and accessible shield at the entrance to Beit Charna. Entering the shield is safer and more efficient than going down On the stairs to a space that does not constitute a standard shelter. We reiterate that in any case of an alarm, you must act according to the instructions of the Home Front Command (which have been proven to save lives) and enter the most protected place available within a minute of the alarm sounding and stay there for 10 minutes. However, we have asked the Home Front Command to investigate Second, the possibility of converting the building into a standard protected space, and we will act according to his recommendations."

The Haifa Municipality's response regarding the shelters The shelter in Kiryat Sheprintak:
1. In the IDF - open 2. The shelter at 22 Haziat St. is open to the public except for one room used by the Civil Guard

Regarding the shelter in Hatshebi: the shelter in question is not a public shelter but a school shelter used by school children, like other school shelters in the city. It should be emphasized that during studies, foreigners should not be allowed to enter an educational institution. If the self-defense guidelines, set by the Home Front Command, change, and the studies do not take place, the use of the school shelters as a whole will be examined.