From the news desk

GOTG roll up sleeves in Kathmandu

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Humanitarian workers from Gift of the Givers (GOTG) have a monumental task on their hands as they try to bring South Africans stuck in quake-ravaged Katmandu to safety, while assisting in the search and rescue missions on the ground. GOTG’s first team arrived in Nepal on Thursday with a group of 43 members including search and rescue, medical teams and South African media.

A second team of 37 highly specialised trauma medical doctors will depart South Africa on Friday. This brings the entire delegation to 80 people, the biggest team in GOTG’s 22 year history.

Through the support by the Nepalese Government, GOTG will now be running the Phect hospital in Kirtipur, situated on the outskirts of Kathmandu.

“I have just finalized the arrangements for our medical team. God is Great! We have managed to get control of over a 300 bed hospital, with full command by our team. Our specialist team lands on Friday and we can hit the ground running. God is the best guide, may He guide us all…Ameen,” said GOTG founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman from Kathmandu.

Logistics has been a huge challenge since day one. The team’s flight had to circle the airport for one hour and 30 minutes before it could land. But Sooliman described the reception as “fantastic”, saying the Nepalese Government went out of its way to welcome the GOTG team. The team were provided accommodation at the Little Hearts School.

The organisation’s passage was facilitated by South Africa’s Department of International Relations (Dirco) and the Indian High Commission opened their embassy on Sunday to issue visas.

“Singapore Airlines was outstanding in every way. They even issued our tickets without us paying,” added Sooliman.

35 pieces of luggage had to be left behind in Johannesburg while other crucial supplies had to be left in Singapore. The team are waiting for these resources to arrive, including a cargo plane with essential supplies departing on Friday.

The death toll has now exceeded 6000, with countless people injured after Saturday’s deadly 7.8-magnitude quake. Over 100 powerful aftershocks measuring above 4 on the Richter scale have shaken the country till Thursday morning, forcing many to flee their homes. An UN agency said that over 500,000 houses were either fully or partially damaged in the capital due to the quake.

With tens of thousands of Nepalese left homeless, GOTG is now launching a campaign to purchase tents.

“We need the public to support the purchase of a family ten at R4000 or part thereof.

The need is huge. Thousands are displaced with no shelter. Cold weather and monsoon rains are on the way. These battered civilians need our support,” urged Sooliman.

Deposit into Gift of the Givers, Standard Bank, Pietermaritzburg, Account No. 052278611, Branch Code 057525. Details toll free 0800786911. VOC


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