Haiti: Rescue dogs depressed
2010-01-25 14:23
Special Report
There is not much left of the city's numerous churches, beside crosses and the occasional surviving stained glass window...
Johannesburg - Even the rescue dogs used in search and rescue operations in Haiti were depressed by the devastation inflicted by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake.
"One of the challenges was the dogs did get depression...," said a member of the South African search and rescue team at a media briefing by the Gift of the Givers in Johannesburg on Monday.
Mark Louw, who was part of the search and rescue team, said it was a reward for the dogs to find people alive but this rarely happened.
The team linked up with a Mexican organisation which assisted them with logistics, transport and accommodation - tents and sleeping bags on the cement floor of an old building.
The team told of their harrowing experience in the earthquake ravaged country.
"Even the poorest of the poor South Africans have something to be grateful for, there's nothing left in that country," said a member of the medical team Andre Keyser.
"When you starting treating people, especially the children, there are no more smiles. All their smiles are gone."
Keyser described a general feeling of depression among the Haitian people.
"It's almost as if they are dead inside."
But he said there was still hope and he urged South Africans to continue praying for that country.
North West premier Maureen Modiselle was at the briefing to welcome the emergency medical personnel team who accompanied the Gift of the Givers.
Most of the members of the team were from her province.
- SAPA
