SA team start work in Pakistan
2005-10-14 07:26
Johannesburg - A South African relief mission has arrived in Pakistan and will be deployed to Bagh on Friday to give medical assistance following a massive earthquake in southern Asia.
"Our flight over was quite difficult, but we are ready to start working," said Rescue South Africa chief executive Ian Scher.
"We will begin our operations early on Friday morning and have been in consultation with the United Nations."
The mission, an initiative of department of foreign affairs, is made up of five doctors and 12 paramedics from the health department and Netcare911.
The team is supported by Rescue South Africa personnel who are providing logistic and co-ordination support.
"We have about four tons of equipment and are able to provide medical relief and assist in the set-up of temporary medical facilities in the affected areas," said Scher.
"We will divide into two teams and while one sets camp, the other will start immediately with relief and medical assistance."
Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed as a result of a 7.6-magnitude quake which struck on Saturday.
- SAPA