As the death toll mounts in the aftermath of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Nepal, South African humanitarian agency Gift of the Givers (GOTG) is preparing to send its relief mission to the country. With over 2000 people dead, Nepal requires urgent assistance and a call has made for international intervention, especially from neighbouring countries. India has responded even though it has suffered multiple deaths as the effect of the earthquake was felt in that country.

On Sunday, GOTG founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman said they were on standby with 20 highly qualified search and rescue personnel and “world class” technological equipment.

“We have what is called a Life Locator, a machine that can accurately predict the presence of life 10 meters below the rubble in 3 minutes. We also have the search cam, a camera facility that provides video footage as the team search through rubble, and other relevant equipment is available and ready as an integral part of our response capability. Right now, we are trying to finalise the sniffer dogs,” Sooliman explained.

A highly qualified team of twenty trauma specialists are also on standby. These include general, orthopedic and maxillo facial surgeons with anaesthetists, emergency medicine intensivists, theatre and ICU nurses, paramedics and orthopedic assistants.

“We have a whole range of highly specialized portable equipment that gives us the capability to function as a fully fledged emergency mobile hospital. The total package of all equipment and supplies that we intend taking to Nepal is valued at around R5 million,” said Sooliman.

“This excludes all the essential basic items like tents, food, blankets, bottled water and related items that will be purchased in India. A Nepalese doctor is also part of our team and we welcome other Nepalese medical personnel.”

The team would hopefully depart by Monday morning should the Department of International Relations (DIRCO) issue visas on Sunday. But Sooliman said the mission would be challenging given the closure of Kathmandu Airport to commercial flights.

“We may have to go through a neighbouring country, most likely India, which means we need visas,” he added.

On Sunday, DIRCO said five South Africans known to be in Nepal are safe. It’s also been reported that a group of Johannesburg hikers on a hiking trip in Nepal are stranded but unharmed.

The quake is regarded as one of the biggest natural disasters to hit Nepal since the Bihar earthquake of 1934, which was 80 years ago. A combination of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, being very superficial (only 15 km below the centre), a densely populated area of 2.5 million people in the Kathmandu Valley, poor building construction, inaccessible outlying villages, multiple aftershocks greater than 4.5 with one at 6.6, are collectively, factors for a major disaster. Added to the misery is the relatively low temperatures, continuous rain, limited medical facilities, extended load shedding daily and a country of modest means.

Sooliman made a call for search and rescue and medical volunteers to join the GOTG mission. Volunteers must provide a full description of their qualification and experience in the event the humanitarian organisations decided to dispatch more personnel. Documents can be emailed to sooliman@giftofthegivers.org

Meanwhile, the public can contribute by deposits into Gift of the Givers, Standard Bank, Pietermaritzburg, Account No. 052278611, Branch code 057525.  Fax or email deposit slip with all contact details for acknowledgement purposes. For details contact 0800786911. VOC