A MEDICAL-CARE PROGRAM FOR ETHIOPIAN JEWISH MIGRANTS IN ADDIS-ABABA

In May 1990, the Ethiopian Jews-who for centuries had lived as peasant s in isolated rural villages in northwestern Ethiopia-migrated en mass e to Addis Ababa. In July, 39 deaths occurred in this community of app roximately 22,000 people. When this was reported in Israel the Ethiopi an Jews already living there staged a demonstration at the Knesset cla iming that their relatives in Ethiopia were being neglected by the Jew ish organizations providing aid to the Ethiopian people. In response, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee rapidly developed a c omprehensive medical program during a 3-week period commencing on Augu st 20. During the ensuing months there was a rapid fall in the mortali ty rate in the Jewish community. On 24-25 May 1991, as rebel armies we re preparing to enter the city, almost the entire Jewish population re maining in Ethiopia was airlifted to Israel.