Author:
Publication: Afternoon Despatch
& Courier
Date: February 5, 2001
Introduction: Israel has set up
a fully operational, 70-bed, field hospital in Bhuj to treat earthquake
victims. Dov Segev-Steinberg, the consul general of Israel in Bombay, who
helped set it up for Jerusalem, reports from the ravaged town.
I've experienced earthquakes before
in Israel, Mexico and California... but none so severe! Friday, January
26, I was lazing in bed, when the various bells in my 22nd-floor apartment
on Peddar Road started tinkling. Then the fans began swaying. Earthquake!
I rushed into the kitchen to find my maids crouching on the floor, holding
onto the shaking furniture. I calmed them down, then switched on the TV
Nothing! I called my headquarters, the foreign ministry in Jerusalem, and
reported the earthquake. Two hours later, they confirmed the news. I received
many calls from Israel after that. From the media, and the Israeli national
radio, which interviewed me. And I made several myself to consulate staff
members, friends, and all the Israelis I know in India.
Israelis, for unfortunate reasons,
are experts at dealing with various crises. Saturday, January 27, Jerusalem
was in communication with Delhi already, offering assistance and aid. On
Sunday, January 28, Delhi returned the call. The only hospital in Bhuj
had collapsed on the medical staff and patients, it said. Everybody was
killed. There were no doctors, no medical supplies, and thousands of wounded
to treat. Could Israel help? In less than 24 hours, our team was ready.
And on Monday night, six big Hercules aircraft flew out of Tel Aviv carrying
190 medical personnel and all the equipment they would need to set up a
field hospital. I left Bombay on Tuesday (January 30) morning for Bhuj
by Indian Airlines. I was accompanied by my friend, Dr. Patricia Gokhale,
a psychiatrist who proved most helpful in coordinating our mission. We
were joined there by the Israeli ambassador from New Delhi, David Aphek,
and the military attache and other staff.
The Hercules began landing in military
precision at the devastated Bhuj Airport. One at a time. No sooner than
each aircraft was relieved of its passengers and cargo, it would take off
and another would land. At the same time, we were hunting for a location
to set up the hospital. We found it in an abandoned football ground next
to a school. The Indian Army joined us then and provided transport to move
our equipment and staff. While all this was happening, it turned dark,
and the temperature began to drop quickly. There were no hotels in Bhuj,
so in sleeping bags and on mattresses, we spent the first night in the
open. While all around us, with generators providing electricity, the hospital
came up. The temperature was 0 degrees! The Israeli team had come fully
prepared with drinking water and food, and were self-sufficient in every
way.
Wednesday (January 31) morning,
the first patient was brought in. It was a young lady in the 26th week
of her pregnancy. She gave birth to a premature, two pounds, baby girl.
The doctor who delivered the baby was one of Israel's most famous gynaecologists.
We have this system in Israel whereby everybody gets drafted into the army.
Boys serve between 18 and 21 years of age, and girls between 18 and 20.
The men remain in what we call "reserve forces" till they are 50. They
have to compulsorily undergo three weeks' military training every year
so as to be in shape. This way, in the emergency of a war, the whole nation
can he recruited to the army. The Israeli foreign ministry had recruited
its medical team for Bhuj from the reserve, staff. And the nation's famous,
gynaecologist happened to be one of them.
In Israel, it is difficult to get
an 'appointment with this man! And when you do, it costs a lot. Here he
was working happily... and for free. Gently, this doctor delivered the
premature baby and put her into an incubator. Yes, an incubator! They had
by then set up operation theatres, emergency rooms, gynaecology and paediatric
sections, ICUs, x-ray facilities... it is a fully functional hospital!
And they have 90 doctors with the other personnel being paramedics experienced
in pediatrics and orthopedics. The head of the Israeli delegation is a
specialist in mental trauma cases. The baby that was delivered was then
flown into Ahmedabad with her mother. In the midst of destruction and death,
suddenly there was life. The news spread and more and more people started
coming to the field hospital for treatment. It made us so happy to be there.
Thursday, February 1, I led a delegation
unto Bhuj to size-up the situation front close. What I saw was a city completely
destroyed and flattened. The houses that were still standing were not fit
to live in. People went about everywhere with the shock still in their
eyes. They were sleeping in the streets for fear of aftershocks and fresh
tremors. Everywhere, teams of civilians moved about spraying the debris
with insecticide and pesticide to ward off epidemics. I walked into huge
community tents and saw how people were living together and eating together
in great amity. There was such spirit of brotherhood between the Indian
and foreign NGOs. Everybody was helping each other. I saw lots of trucks
loaded with firewood that would be used to cremate the dead. I saw houses
totally demolished and with bodies under the debris. And I saw people calmly
trying to find ways to cope. They hugged and kissed us. "Thank you for
the help and support... thank you for coming," they all said. Such a feeling
of togetherness, cohesiveness. It comes about in the time of disaster.
Ambassador David Aphek and I left
Bhuj on Thursday afternoon. The Israeli foreign ministry officials are
now running the field hospital. Thousands of patients have been treated
already and yet, there are so many more. Hundreds of operations have been
performed, most of them orthopedic, and with just 70 beds... a city is
slowly being helped to find its feet again. The hospital will be there
for as long as it is needed. The Israeli Hercules aircraft keep flying
into Bhuj with more supplies and staff. Most of the medical personnel are
young boys and girls of defence backgrounds. Being in their midst reminded
me of my own stint in the army. I am happy my country could be of help.
A small gesture to our good friend India in the time of this grave crisis.
