On the afternoon of April 28, the medical relief team from the Tzu Chi Foundation arrived in the Nepalese capital of Katmandu to start work after the devastating earthquake. They were carrying one tonne of emergency medicines and will begin medical service on April 29.
They arrived at 2.02 pm local time. They set out from Taiwan on April 27 for Bangkok. According to the original plan, they were to transfer that evening to a plane for Katmandu but the flight was cancelled. Instead, they took a Thai Airways flight on the morning of April 28 for Katmandu. It spent nearly two hours circling above the city’s airport before it could land. This is because the facility cannot handle the large number of airplanes bringing aid personnel and goods arriving from all over the world.
The team reported that the airspace above the airport is limited, with three aircraft arriving at the same time carrying relief teams from the U.S., Singapore, Israel, Pakistan and other countries. The terminal is packed with people and is chaotic. On arrival, each team waits in the main hall to collect its baggage and relief equipment.
The Tzu Chi team consists of 15 people, led by Chien Sou-hsin, superintendent of the Taichung Tzu Chi hospital. The deputy leaders are Chao You-chen, superintendent of the Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Li Yi-Gong, director of the emergency department of the Dalin Tzu Chi hospital, and Wang Jian-xing, head of the trauma division of the Tzu Chi Medical Center in Hualien. After clearing customs, they immediately made contact with the medical organization at the airport. They plan to provide medical services, offering surgery, internal medicine and emergency treatment. They have brought with them 65 cases containing one tonnes of medicines and medical goods. They estimate that these can be used by 1,000 people.The team include volunteers from Malaysia, Thailand, India, Philippines and the United States. All have rich experience of international aid. From April 29, they will go to the areas affected by the quake and start to plan the delivery of food, warm blankets and multi-functional foldable beds. Once they have finished this survey, they will report to the Tzu Chi Disaster Command Center in Hualien. These will be delivered from Taiwan, with the hope of bringing them as early as possible to the earthquake victims.
By Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
