By Minna Passi, Finnish Red Cross
The hospital in Dhunche has been severely destroyed and the patients are in tents outside. Many are injured and it is expected that more patients will arrive from the remote villages in the following days.
“We don’t know exactly what to expect but we are used to working in difficult circumstances”, says Ola Dunin-Bell. Ola is a surgeon and an aid worker with the Canadian Red Cross. She has just been deployed to provide medical care in Dhunche, a remote community located about 2 hours from Kathmandu, near the Tibet border.
Ola is part of the Canadian Red Cross field hospital team that was deployed to Nepal following the earthquake. The team is comprised of 25 Canadian aid workers and is supported by the Philippine Red Cross and the Hong Kong Red Cross.
The road to Dhunche is blocked, so the first load of equipment and thirteen team members have to be sent in by helicopters from Kathmandu. They will support local staff in treating the wounded.
“I don’t know yet how long I’m going to be working there but I’m going to stay as long as I am needed,” says Ola, who is also specialized in high altitude and wilderness medicine.
The helicopter is ready and the loading can begin. The hospital needs tents, medicine, food and different kinds of equipment to be able to function. Because of this, the helicopter provided will have to make several trips.
Ola is ready to get in to the first helicopter. She looks focused. “What I’m feeling now is anticipation”, she says, as she takes off to Dhunche.
Photos: Aapo Huhta, Finnish Red Cross
Canadians are encouraged to support relief efforts in Nepal by donating to the Canadian Red Cross Nepal Region Earthquake Fund.
The Canadian government will be matching eligible donations from April 25 to May 25.