Individual protective kits (IPK's) were first distributed to residents of Israel in 1990, on the eve of the first Gulf War. Until 2003, the Home Front Command has conducted routine maintenance of the protective kits.
Due to the demographic changes which took place in the following years, as well as the attrition rate and expiration of many protective kits, the political leadership had decided to collect the kits remaining in the individual possession.
During the collection drive, which took place in 2007-2008, most of the protective kits still in the hands of the population were collected for rehabilitation and refreshing, with the view to future re-distribution.
The new distribution drive began on February 28, 2010, with a pilot in Or-Yehuda, extended on March 7 to all the towns of the Ono valley. The country-wide distribution started on April 6, 2010, and will continue for several years. The IPK distribution is carried out by the Doar Israel postal company via the individual home delivery service for the cost of 25 NIS, or through distribution centers (stationary and mobile) spread throughout the country at distances under 30 km. from each other.
For additional information, contact the Doar Israel phone order center at *2237, or visit the Israel Post Office website at http://magen.israelpost.co.il/abach