The recent earthquake in Venezuela has deepened the humanitarian crisis in an already politically isolated country. For a growing number of Israeli aid organizations and technology companies, it also signaled a quiet shift afoot in global relief efforts. Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to provide expertise and services in places where human access is limited or impossible.
Israel and Venezuela have no diplomatic relations. However, Israel’s four humanitarian organizations have already begun responding to the disaster through remote guidance, coordination with local partners, and the use of cross-border teams and individuals, including experts with dual citizenship. In parallel, a broader ecosystem of Israeli nonprofits and startups is developing AI-based tools designed to replicate some of the field work that traditionally required physical presence.
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The premise, experts say, is not to replace field operations, but to extend them by allowing them to deliver knowledge, analysis and decision support to places where people cannot travel.
One of the most obvious uses is disease prevention. NALA, an organization focused on neglected tropical diseases in Africa, is collaborating with the University of Haifa and the Lemonade Foundation to develop an AI system that combines satellite imagery, environmental indicators, climate data, and topographic maps to identify potential disease outbreak areas before they occur.
In parallel, the organization is testing an AI-powered microscope, developed in partnership with Ethiopia’s Jimma University with support from Seed Israel, that can assist in diagnosing intestinal parasites in places where a laboratory or trained medical professional is not available.
This model reflects a broader ambition to move some of diagnostics and prevention away from hospitals and laboratories to remote, data-driven systems that can operate in resource-constrained environments.
In healthcare delivery itself, Israeli company CervInsight has developed an artificial intelligence system that allows nurses and healthcare workers to screen for early signs of cervical cancer using only their smartphones. The system eliminates the need for testing infrastructure or specialists and is already in use in Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Ethiopia and El Salvador. More than 350,000 women worldwide die from the disease each year, according to figures cited by the company.
Other organizations focus on the psychological toll of the crisis. Early Starters International, which works with young children in Israel and abroad, has developed Tiki, an AI-based assistant designed to assist educators working with children suffering from trauma. This tool provides access to trauma-informed guidance in settings where experts are in short supply. A new version currently in development will work through WhatsApp and eliminate the need for registration or access to specialized software.
Artificial intelligence is also being used to interpret communities that aid organizations cannot physically visit. With operations in more than 18 countries, Rural Senses has built a system that can transcribe, translate, and analyze thousands of interviews across more than 80 languages and dialects. The system identifies patterns, themes, and emotional signals within open-ended responses.
In Kenya, the company analyzed over 13,000 responses in four languages in just 34 days. Officials said the process helped local organizations refine their programs and raise additional funding.
Infrastructure planning is also a new frontier. AnyWay Solutions uses AI, machine learning, and geospatial analysis to design transportation systems in developing countries. By processing satellite images and aerial photography, the system can identify settlements not marked on official maps, evaluate road route options, and support the design of infrastructure that is resilient to climate pressures.
In Papua New Guinea, the company’s tools are being used to connect isolated communities to health, education, and employment services while reducing costs and environmental impact.
What these efforts have in common is an attempt to compress geographic, political, and logistical distances through computation.
“Humanitarian organizations are increasingly dealing with situations where it is not always possible to be physically on the ground,” said Ayelet Levin Karp, CEO of SID Israel, an umbrella organization for Israeli humanitarian aid and international development organizations. She pointed to war, natural disasters, political restrictions and access restrictions as the main drivers of change.
“In many cases, aid organizations can continue to provide knowledge, expertise and tools even in remote locations, mainly due to new technologies such as artificial intelligence,” she said. “Artificial intelligence will not replace field work, but it will augment field work and allow us to reach places that were previously out of reach.”
