As the death toll from the catastrophic Nepal floods continues to rise, Gift of the Givers and the South African Hindu Maha Sabha are preparing to assist, while efforts intensify to locate six missing South Africans.
Image: XINHUA VIA IANS
The desperate search for six South Africans missing after devastating floods swept through the Nepal-Tibet border region has prompted Gift of the Givers to prepare a specialist search-and-recovery operation, as families anxiously await news of their loved ones.
The humanitarian organisation is in contact with the families of the missing South Africans and has placed a second search-and-recovery team on standby as the full scale of the disaster continues to emerge.
The floods struck on Wednesday after an ice-rock avalanche and glacial collapse triggered a devastating surge of water, mud and debris near the Nepal-China border.
The death toll has continued to rise as rescuers reach areas that were initially cut off.
At least hundreds of people have died, with the latest reports putting the death toll at more than 600 across Nepal and the affected Tibet region, while thousands remain missing.
The disaster has also affected international travellers and pilgrims who were travelling through the remote Himalayan region when the floodwaters struck.
Gift of the Givers founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman said the organisation had already begun engaging with Nepalese authorities about a possible rescue deployment.
“Gift of the Givers Head of Search and Rescue, Ahmed Bham, was included into a Nepalese Government emergency meeting yesterday where the Foreign Minister, Disaster Management and other officials were present.
“He was engaged by the officials including the Minister, thanked for our intervention in the Nepalese Earthquake of April 2015 and for coming forward so rapidly to assist yet again. They were interested in our team composition with a particular interest in the capability of the K9's and asked several questions related to the dogs.”
The interest in the organisation's K9 capabilities comes as rescuers confront difficult terrain and the destruction of roads and bridges, which has made reaching some areas particularly challenging.
Sooliman said the organisation's specialist team, including SAPS dog handlers, was preparing search-and-rescue equipment in Johannesburg.
“We have put a second search and recovery team on standby. We are aware that the Nepalese government has sufficient medical capacity, but we are ready to provide medical teams also.”
The organisation said Nepalese Disaster Management authorities had indicated that, should a formal request for international assistance be made, Gift of the Givers would be given priority status and its teams would be hosted and integrated with local rescue operations.
The disaster has also prompted a response from the South African Hindu Maha Sabha, which has contacted the Nepalese Embassy in Pretoria to establish what assistance is most urgently required.
“The South African Hindu Maha Sabha is currently in contact with the Embassy of Nepal in Pretoria to ascertain the most urgent needs arising from the recent devastating floods.”
The organisation said it would share information about the assistance required once it had received clarification from the embassy.
“Once we receive clarification on the type of assistance required, we will communicate this information and provide further updates on how individuals and organisations can support the relief efforts.”
The Maha Sabha also extended its solidarity and prayers to those affected by the disaster.
For the families of the six missing South Africans, the wider devastation is secondary to one desperate question: where are their loved ones?
Gift of the Givers said it was also in contact with another South African, Sulosh Pillay, who safely crossed into Tibet two days before the disaster.
Sooliman said efforts were continuing to locate the missing South Africans, with people on the ground helping to circulate their photographs and gather information.
“They are a group of seven South Africans in the disaster zone. Sulosh and the spiritual leader of the region, Mohanji, are both known to us. Prashant Pokhrel, a music teacher from SA, who has been living in Nepal for a few years has offered all assistance possible to locate the missing South Africans.
“He has published their pics in all local media and activated friends in the disaster region to assist when the situation permits it.”
The search has been complicated by the scale of destruction, with emergency workers dealing with damaged infrastructure, unstable terrain and difficult access to affected communities.
IOL
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