Villena based firefighter Francisco José Catalán, a member of the Provincial Fire Consortium travelled out to Katmandu on Monday with eleven other members of the emergency response team ‘Bomberos Sin Fronteras’.
The group were en route to Nepal where they are to join hundreds of other volunteers in the rescue activities following the 7.9 magnitude earthquake that caused thousands of deaths in the Himalayas. The party also includes two search and rescue dogs.
Paco, as he is affectionately known, said that his family had asked him not to go because of the danger of aftershocks, but I told them It’s my job and the people out their need all the help they can get. ‘It is important that we get out there quickly with our specialist equipment and with the search and rescue dogs if we are going to have any real effect’ Paco said as he was en route to Barcelona Airport.
So far, Paco has worked in humanitarian aid missions in the Dominican Republic where he worked with, and trained, local firefighters. He is aware that this mission is totally different. ‘I just want to get across there now and start work’.
When they arrive in Nepal the team will be under the command of the United Nations (UN), who are coordinating the tasks to deal with the emergency.
A spokesman for ‘Bomberos Sin Fronteras’ said when his organization made initial contact with the Spanish Government they were told that the country would not be providing manpower to take part in rescue operations and that all aid would be humanitarian.Therefore they decided to go it alone.
Paco said that he is still confident of finding people alive under the rubble but speed is always the decisive factor. He says he does not know how long his group with remain in the area, but initially they had been told they would be required at least until 6 May when the situation will be reviewed.
Amongst the humanitarian Aid to be provided the Provincial Council of Alicante have announced that they are to allocate 10,000 euros through the Red Cross for the supply of blankets, tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, jerry cans, and other essential items needed to overcome the lack of water and food, exacerbated by failed communication networks and power supplies.
In the photograph Paco is shown on the left of the group.
Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/47118/
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