Body of missing Israeli found in Nepal

Rescuers found the body of 22-year-old Israeli Or Asraf in Nepal on Sunday morning, eight days after a deadly earthquake ravaged the country. Asraf was the last Israeli unaccounted for following the quake. His family received the bitter news at their home in Lehavim in southern Israel.

Asraf's body was found by his comrades from the elite Egoz reconnaissance unit, led by his former commander, in the Langtang Nature Park after an arduous and perilous search in difficult terrain.

Avi Bachar, director of the FIRST search and rescue organization, said: "We were six rescuers accompanied by soldiers from the Egoz unit. We extracted Or's body on a stretcher to a place where a helicopter could land, in a small village, and from there he's supposed to be flown to Kathmandu on Monday morning."

Volunteers from ZAKA International, United Hatzolah and FIRST arrived in Nepal last week as part of a joint task force to help search for Asraf. His body was identified by one of his army mates who had joined the search team.

"The Asraf family is now dealing with the profound pain of mourning its son, a beloved boy, salt of the earth," said Tal, Asraf's uncle. "Patrick and Orit, Or's parents, promised to return him home and kept their promise."

In a telephone conversation, Patrick Asraf said: "My assessment is that he was killed in a rock slide. There are many rock slides in the area involving gigantic boulders. There were moments, after witnessing the magnitude of the disaster, when I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep my promise to bring Or back home. I'm so sad that I no longer have Or, but I'm happy we have Or at home.

"Ultimately, there is a God above and his plans come to fruition. Of all the possibilities running through my head, this scenario was not the worst. I'm an incorrigible optimist, I didn’t lose hope.

"We believe Or tried rescuing himself and was hit by a boulder," his father continued.

"After Or was found, we decided not take any unnecessary risks, due to the conditions and the darkness, and tomorrow [Monday] a helicopter with rescue equipment will be dispatched and he will be extracted. I want to return a big hug to all the people who did everything in their power to help us with material, money and tools, and a lot of encouragement. I am thankful to everyone and proud to be a part of the people of Israel."

President Reuven Rivlin said the news of Asraf's death was "difficult and heartbreaking." He sent his condolences to the family and said the entire country had been praying for his safe return.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Patrick Asraf on Sunday, telling him: "We did everything to find Or, but we hoped the ending would be different. It is the State of Israel's obligation toward Or, a hero as a soldier who fought for the security of Israeli citizens. I share in your family's deep sorrow."

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot also sent his condolences to the Asraf family.

"Or was the salt of the earth, a fighter in Shaldag [Israel Air Force Special Operations Unit] and Egoz, who fought in Operation Protective Edge, rescued wounded and was wounded in battle. We lost one of our best sons, may his memory be a blessing."

Meanwhile, after a 20-hour flight and a short layover in Mumbai, India, six Israeli backpackers who survived last Saturday's earthquake landed in Israel on Sunday. Apart from Asraf, they were the last Israelis who had failed to make contact with the outside world after the earthquake.

Excited family and friends greeted them at the airport. With his backpack still over his shoulder, Omri Kadosh, from Omer in southern Israel, recounted the terrifying moments in Langtang: "The ground began shaking. It was a feeling of needing to be in the right place, because if not, you were dead. Boulders collapsed on us. We looked for safe routes and everything kept shaking. Five days after the quake we managed to make contact with a satellite phone, and were rescued by helicopters sent by the insurance company."

By Sunday night, the Israeli field hospital in Nepal had treated 580 people and conducted 43 life-saving surgeries. It also conducted three caesarean births, and two regular births.

Dispatching seven search and rescue teams and bringing some 200 Israeli citizens back home will cost the government at least NIS 30 million ($7.7 million).

Meanwhile, according to U.N. data, Israel has sent more medical aid personnel to Nepal following the earthquake than any other country has. Out the 365 Israelis sent to Nepal in the wake of the earthquake, 122 are medical personnel.

China sent 37 medical professionals; India sent 26 (in three separate delegations); Germany sent 26 in four delegations; Thailand sent 23, and Malaysia supplied 20.

The U.S. sent 15 aid personnel, while Italy, Spain and Japan each sent eight, Switzerland sent six, France sent five, and Canada sent four people.

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