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🇮🇱 Israel /Disasters & Emergencies

New report shows many migrant workers lacked access to shelter during Operation Roaring Lion

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A new report indicates that migrant workers in Israel generally followed Home Front Command instructions during the June 2025 war with Iran but faced uneven access to shelters and information.
  • Workers in agriculture, construction, and live-in care sectors reported particular difficulties, with some lacking full access to protected spaces within required warning times.
  • The report highlights that the primary gap was not workers' willingness to follow instructions but the availability of necessary conditions, such as accessible shelters and clear, multilingual information.

Migrant workers in Israel largely adhered to Home Front Command instructions during the June 2025 war with Iran, but their access to essential resources like shelters and clear information was inconsistent, according to a new report by the Center for International Migration and Integration (CIMI).

In our community, there is only a trench, no shelters nearby. More shelters need to be built.

— Agricultural workerAn agricultural worker described the lack of adequate shelters in their community.

The report, based on a survey of 1,502 migrant workers, found that while most had access to protected areas at home and work, significant disparities existed. Thai agricultural workers, for instance, reported only 32% having full access to a protected space in both settings within the required warning time, with 9% having no access at all. This uneven access was particularly pronounced in the agriculture, construction, and live-in care sectors, where many workers rely on employer-provided housing and are tied to specific employers by their visa status.

Data from the survey indicated that 99.2% of respondents with at least partial access to a protected space entered it during sirens, suggesting that the main challenge was not a lack of willingness to comply with safety directives but rather the absence of adequate conditions. One agricultural worker noted, "In our community, there is only a trench, no shelters nearby. More shelters need to be built," while another reported an employer keeping workers in an open area "even when explosions could be heard."

an employer kept workers in an open area “even when explosions could be heard.”

— Agricultural workerAnother agricultural worker reported their employer's failure to provide shelter during alarms.

Live-in caregivers faced unique obstacles, with one respondent stating, "I cannot leave the patient even during an alarm. She is 94 and has dementia." Although 87% of respondents received safety instructions, the clarity and accessibility of this information varied significantly by country of origin, often relying on informal language and community networks rather than official channels. Employment patterns also showed high continuity, with 92% to 97% of workers in agriculture, caregiving, and industry reporting daily work throughout the conflict.

I cannot leave the patient even during an alarm. She is 94 and has dementia.

— Live-in caregiverA live-in caregiver explained the difficulty of evacuating during alarms due to patient care responsibilities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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