Gift of the Givers reach out to earthquake victims

GIFT of the Givers has responded to an international call for intervention, following one of the biggest earthquakes to hit Nepal since the Bihar earthquake of 1934.

The disaster response NGO is ready to respond, however, there are restricting factors which include the closure of the Kathmandu Airport to commercial flights, the availability of visas to a neighbouring country and accessibility to Nepal through this neighbouring country. Despite these obstacles, preparations are underway. Twenty highly qualified search and rescue personnel together with world class technological equipment including the Life Locator, (a machine that can accurately predict the presence of life 10 meters below the rubble in 3 minutes), 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 the organisation’s response capability.

A highly qualified team of 20 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. Included is a whole range of highly specialised portable equipment that gives the organisation the capability to function as a fully fledged emergency mobile hospital. The total package of all equipment and supplies that they intend taking to Nepal is valued at around R5 million. 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 part of their team and they welcome other Nepalese medical personnel.

Search and rescue and medical volunteers are encouraged to forward their contact details with a full description of their qualification and experience to sooliman@giftofthegivers.org in the event that they decide to dispatch more personnel.

Your donations can be deposited into the Gift of the Givers, bank account: Standard Bank, Pietermaritzburg, account number: 052278611, branch code: 057525. Fax or email your deposit slip with all contact details for acknowledgement purposes. For details contact 0800786911. Imtiaz Sooliman, from Gift of the Givers said,transporting goods to the affected area will be too expensive and therefore suggested cash contributions, which is a more economical option.