Doctor recounts survival stories in quake chaos
Dave Mark
A DOCTOR who flew into the heart of an area devastated by the south Asian earthquake has spoken publicly for the first time about the tragedies and survivals he witnessed while desperately trying to save lives in ruined Kashmir.
Scunthorpe General Hospital's Muzaffer Ahmed, a consultant in general/colorectal surgery, responded to the earthquake by offering his services to the charity Humanity First, to help the many people affected by the disaster.
Mr Ahmed took the responsibility of being a Humanity First team leader. The UK Humanity First team consisted of two team leaders, and eight other doctors specialising in different areas.
The team set off together for Pakistan, where members spent two weeks working continuously to help people affected by the earthquake. Much-needed supplies were taken â 50 cartons of medicine and medical supplies.
Mr Ahmed said that when the team arrived in Pakistan members were not prepared for the reality of the devastation the earthquake had caused. This soon became apparent as the team travelled to Bagh and the small town where it would be based. <b>In Bagh more than 70 per cent of the buildings had been completely demolished.
Mr Ahmed said: "It was a devastating scene, with people without food and shelter and the cold weather about to start. There was a sense of uncertainty and insecurity everywhere. We tried to serve them in our best capacity."
Teams provided all aspects of medical care, and members had to work in some of the most difficult conditions they had ever experienced. Mr Ahmed safely delivered a baby on a helipad.</b>
He added: "We witnessed a three-month-old baby being pulled out of the rubble alive after six hours and he was healthy and did not have a single scratch on his body.
"Events like these kept everyone's hopes alive and gave us a lot of determination."
The team worked for two weeks day and night to help the victims and also provided tents and shelter, along with food and medicine.
The Pakistani government's official death toll was 87,350 at the end of November. Some estimate that the death toll could reach over 100,000. Most of the affected areas are in mountainous regions and access is impeded by landslides.
16 February 2006
Dave Mark
A DOCTOR who flew into the heart of an area devastated by the south Asian earthquake has spoken publicly for the first time about the tragedies and survivals he witnessed while desperately trying to save lives in ruined Kashmir.
Scunthorpe General Hospital's Muzaffer Ahmed, a consultant in general/colorectal surgery, responded to the earthquake by offering his services to the charity Humanity First, to help the many people affected by the disaster.
Mr Ahmed took the responsibility of being a Humanity First team leader. The UK Humanity First team consisted of two team leaders, and eight other doctors specialising in different areas.
The team set off together for Pakistan, where members spent two weeks working continuously to help people affected by the earthquake. Much-needed supplies were taken â 50 cartons of medicine and medical supplies.
Mr Ahmed said that when the team arrived in Pakistan members were not prepared for the reality of the devastation the earthquake had caused. This soon became apparent as the team travelled to Bagh and the small town where it would be based. <b>In Bagh more than 70 per cent of the buildings had been completely demolished.
Mr Ahmed said: "It was a devastating scene, with people without food and shelter and the cold weather about to start. There was a sense of uncertainty and insecurity everywhere. We tried to serve them in our best capacity."
Teams provided all aspects of medical care, and members had to work in some of the most difficult conditions they had ever experienced. Mr Ahmed safely delivered a baby on a helipad.</b>
He added: "We witnessed a three-month-old baby being pulled out of the rubble alive after six hours and he was healthy and did not have a single scratch on his body.
"Events like these kept everyone's hopes alive and gave us a lot of determination."
The team worked for two weeks day and night to help the victims and also provided tents and shelter, along with food and medicine.
The Pakistani government's official death toll was 87,350 at the end of November. Some estimate that the death toll could reach over 100,000. Most of the affected areas are in mountainous regions and access is impeded by landslides.
16 February 2006