Durban - “Finding a perfumed love letter from my wife and a box of chocolates packed into my bag was the best feeling in the world.”
So said Travis Trower, a paramedic from Durban, who is in Kathmandu, Nepal, as part of a 40-member Gift of the Givers humanitarian team providing relief to victims of last Saturday’s devastating earthquake.
The team were frustrated because their bags, with personal items, including clean clothes, and some of their equipment, were held up in Singapore.
“Bru, it was exciting being reunited with my personal belongings after a few days,” Trower said.
“Not having the luxury of enjoying the little things like clean clothes – but finding the love letter and chocolate that my wife packed into my bag without my knowing was the best feeling in the world.”
Trower had been married for only a month when he accepted the call to fly across the world to assist. “It’s those small things that have given me an extra boost to look forward to the work waiting for us.”
Trowers is one of 21 search and rescue members who have been without their work gear, delaying the start of their mission.
The team had to leave 750kg of medical supplies as well as search and rescue equipment back in Joburg.
Their frustration was compounded when only a handful of more than 100 search and rescue kitbags and items of personal luggage were loaded on to the flight in Singapore bound for Kathmandu.
Now that these had arrived, the team could work without borrowing from other relief groups, Trower said.
Gift of the Givers founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman said the team were given a boost when 33 medical specialists and nurses joined them in Kathmandu yesterday.
Travelling with them were four more journalists to record the team’s work.
“The team’s morale has been increased because now they have their supplies and will finally be able to work this weekend,” Sooliman said.
“The second team’s arrival has re-energised the team.”
Independent Media