From the news desk

Aid workers struggle to access Kathmandu villages

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A South African couple were rescued and have found safety with Gift of the Givers (GOTG) in Kathmandu on Saturday after going for days without shelter or food. Speaking to VOC from Nepal, the relief agency’s founder, Dr Imtiyaaz Sooliman said when Mike Sherman and Kate Ahrends were rescued they were exhausted, cold, hungry and confused. They had lost all their belongings.

“Our team found them late on Friday evening. The two were caught up in the mountain for six days and got a lift from an American helicopter. When they were taken to another camp, they were left all alone and finally got hold of us due to our calls for South Africans stuck in Nepal to make contact with us on media and social media back home. Our messages were everywhere,” Sooliman said.

“They are very much at ease now. We had to buy them some clothes, gave them food and shelter. There are also four Australians who have come to us for shelter.”

Meanwhile, 18 girls from the St Mary’s Diocesan School for girls returned home on Friday morning. The girls had gone to Nepal as part of an educational program before the earthquake struck.

The government in Nepal estimates around 14 300 are injured and 6200 are dead due to the 7.9 magnitude earthquake last week. Sooliman said all parts of Nepal have been affected differently.

“You will think that the destruction is not so big but when you have a closer look inside the buildings you will see the walls falling over, the ceiling is cracked… it is totally unstable. People are afraid to go back into their houses.”

The biggest challenge at this point is reaching the remote areas in the Kathmandu villages where the roads are completely destroyed by the earthquake.

“There aren’t many helicopters. You can’t give medical care as there are no facilities in those parts. At this point we are unable to get food supplies to those areas,” Sooliman continued.

A team of medical practitioners left on Saturday afternoon to reach the remote areas and Sooliman anticipates a long journey ahead.

“It all depends on the fitness of your team. The journey will reach a point where our members will have to leave the car, make the hike up the mountain with the supplies on their backs,” Sooliman added.

“We were fortunate to get the help from local experienced hikers, who know the area. They offered to help carry some supplies and show our team the way to the remote areas.”

However, many people are not coming to the hospitals for the fear of having to pay for treatment. The government has said that they will assist all Nepalese with primary health care for free so we are now trying to spread the word.

While access to the certain areas is difficult due to road damage, efforts are being made to get seriously injured individuals to the nearest hospital.
South Africans in Nepal who have found shelter with GOTG are now offering their voluntary services. Sooliman said everyone is lending a hand at this point. International planes are streaming into the humble airport, dropping off much needed medical supplies along with food.

Sooliman and the team are currently working hand in hand with five local hospitals.

“We plan to distribute food parcels to patients in hospitals as well as most of them do not have food or shelter.” VOC (Ra’eesah Isaacs)


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