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CPUT lecturers gives ground report from Nepal

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Three lecturers from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s (CPUT) Health and Wellness faculty were part of the 23 man strong Gift of the Givers (GOTG) team, who more than two weeks ago travelled to earthquake hit Nepal to assist with rescue operations. The small landlocked state was hit by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake on April 25th that devastated large parts of the country, destroying buildings, killing more than 8000 Tibetans, and displacing hundreds of thousands.

During the ensuing days after the disaster relief groups from across the globe flew in to assist with relief and rescue operations, with the local operation headed by GOTG. CPUT’s Mustafa Zalgaonker, Schalk van der Merwe and Ryan Matthews were amongst the nearly two dozen South African search and rescue specialists that journeyed to the quake-hit country.

Speaking to VOC’s Breakfast Beat on Tuesday, Zalgoanker explained that their linkup with GOTG was one that was established rather swiftly, with the relief group having issued a call for assistance.

“CPUT volunteered their services and their rescue equipment, and GOTG eagerly awaited our response and welcomed our services. Monday morning we arrived in Johannesburg, Tuesday we were in Singapore, and Wednesday we arrived in Nepal. So things happened very quickly, and went off very well,” he explained.

Upon touching down in the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu, approximately 75km from the epicentre of the earthquake, Zalgoanker said their first indication of disaster was the sight of toppled buildings and overall devastation seen upon flying into the airport. They also noted thousands taking refuge in camps outside the quake-ravaged buildings, in fear of potential aftershocks.

Despite the desolation witnessed in the capital, he said the most severe wreckages were seen in many of the outlying areas.

“Villages were actually flattened down to the ground. At night you could see people sitting with candles with nothing else besides that and a few blankets,” he said.

The team’s first action upon arrival had been to report to a special disaster centre established by the local government, where relief teams were given specific instructions. Zalgaonker said whilst the team had come in with the sole purpose of search and rescue, it had been the Nepalese government who had indicated where their services were most in need.

One of the group’s major setbacks according to him had been the fact that their luggage had been delayed by around two days. This let them severely short of equipment, and limited their operations quite substantially.

“In Nepal, although we could not perform search and rescue (up to standard) due to logistical issues, we could still be of assistance in providing medical care,” he said.

“All of us (volunteers) received training at some academic institution in South Africa. The emergency care programmes here are very unique in that we are trained in providing emergency medical care in the out of hospital environment, as well as medical rescue,” he noted.

Rescue and aid is likely to be hampered after Nepal was hit by a new 7.3 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday, near the Everest region of the country. VOC (Mubeen Banderker)


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