Wriiten by: Imtiaz Sooliman
Gift of the Givers was called by the daughter of a South African couple who are missing in the Nepal floods to assist in finding them.
The daughter is known to us. We spoke to the tour operator that hosted the couple, he confirmed that a second South African couple and several international tourists are missing and that thousands of homes, shopping malls and businesses have been washed away. Helicopter surveillance is the only means of access as all roads have been totally destroyed, but landing is not currently possible as there is no solid ground given the height of the water level. We are aware of other South Africans in the region but they are safe.
Listen to the voice clip here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFqo6gFPvhA
Ahmed Bham, Gift of the Givers head of search and rescue, is in communication with the Nepalese Disaster Management as we have a relationship with them having responded to the Nepal Earthquake in 2015. They suggest that teams should remain on standby and not travel as the government has not made a call for international assistance as yet but that may just be forthcoming once the true scale of the disaster is manifest in daylight hours. Furthermore, there is a huge danger that a dam may collapse as a secondary impact putting teams at enormous risk.
In the meantime Gift of the Givers have eleven urban search and water rescue team members ready for deployment as well as four SAPS dog handlers and four dogs authorised by the deputy national police commissioner, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili. We are touch with the Nepalese Embassy in SA who are prepared to process visas with immediate effect but we holding on until a call for international assistance is made. The disaster site is 125km from the capital Kathmandu, all operations will be managed from here by the military.
We are busy with airline companies currently in preparation for logistical arrangements. DIRCO will be contacted for diplomatic support if the teams are deployed. Both DIRCO and the Nepalese Embassy will be visited in the morning.
Source: Gift of the Givers
