CAMERA Prompts Corrections on Aid to Nepal

Based on an incomplete and misleading CNN graphic, several English-language Israeli and Jewish media outlets erroneously reported that the Israeli rescue mission to Nepal was the largest of any country’s delegation in manpower. In fact, India’s delegation was the largest. Following communication from CAMERA’s Israel office, Times of Israel, The Algemeiner and i24news have commendably corrected their articles.
 
The erroneous reports apparently originated with a CNN graphic (below) which is no longer available on the network’s site.
 
 
In an apparent oversight, the CNN graphic did not include the country which contributed the most manpower to the relief effort: India. According to the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, India’s delegation was comprised of over 450 personnel. According to an April 27 article from the Himalayan News Service (“India sends largest rescue contingent”), ” . . . India sent 348-member search and rescue team [sic], including three sniffer dogs to Nepal, the largest rescue team as far as foreign rescue team are concerned.”
 
It is true, though, relative to the countries’ respective populations, Israel’s delegation of 260 is proportionally the largest (as well as second in absolute figures.)
 
Nevertheless, relying on CNN’s partial information, The Times of Israel reported on April 29 (“Israel’s aid team to Nepal larger than any other country’s“): “Israel’s aid team to the earthquake-battered Himalyan nation of Nepal is the largest in manpower of any international aid mission.”
 
 
In response to information provided by CAMERA staff, Times of Israel editors yesterday promptly corrected both the headline and text. As of this writing, the headline reads: “Israel’s aid team to Nepal among the largest.” The amended first sentence now states that the Israeli team “is one of the largest in manpower.”
 
In addition, the updated story now includes the additional information concerning the CNN chart:

According to figures reported by CNN, Israel’s total official aid delegation, not counting several private aid groups, numbers 260 people, more than all the other aid efforts examined by CNN combined. The next-largest delegation, from the United Kingdom, numbers 68 people, followed by China’s 62, the US’s 54 and South Korea’s 40. Taiwan sent 20 personnel, Italy 15 and France 11.

The CNN figures did not include India, however, which sent a National Disaster Response Force numbering 450 people,according to the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Finally, editors commendably appended the following information to the bottom of the article notifying readers of the changes:
 
Last week, Snapshots, CAMERA’s blog, relied on The Times of Israel report and also incorrectly reported that Israel’s delegation was the largest. We regret the error and have corrected.
 
 The Algemeiner also got it wrong, relying on CNN. The original headline for the April 29 article was “CNN: Israel Send More Volunteers to Nepal Than Any Other Country.”  The article began:
 

Israel has sent more manpower than any other country to assist Nepal following last Friday’s massive earthquake near Kathmandu, a chart by CNN published on Tuesday has revealed.

According to the chart, Israel has sent more than 260 people to beleaguered Kathmandu since the last Friday. This is about 200 more people than the next country, the UK, which sent 68 people.

Editors there, too, quickly responded to CAMERA’s urging for a correction. The new headline is:
 
 
Editors also completely revamped the beginning of the article. As of this writing, it now reads:

Israel has sent the second largest delegation to assist Nepal following last Friday’s massive earthquake near Kathmandu, according to the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

According to the report, Israel has sent more than 260 people to beleaguered Kathmandu since the last Friday. This is about 200 more people than the next country, the UK, which sent 68 people.

In addition, the following correction is appended to the bottom of the article:
 
 
Israel’s i24news also got it wrong (“Israel sends larger aid delegation to Nepal than any other country“) and editors have likewise corrected. The article originally stated: “By sending a delegation of 260 search and rescue experts to earthquake-stricken Nepal, Israel has so far sent more manpower than any other country in the world.” The amended headline and first paragraph now state:
 
 
Unlike Times of Israel, The Algemeiner and CAMERA, i24news did append a note informing readers about the change.

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