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31 January 2001 By Patrick Fuller in Bhuj Yesterday, the Red Cross began distributions of the first consignment of relief supplies that arrived in Bhuj late the privious night. Leading the convoy was Marc Beutler of the Swiss Red Cross, who arrived exhausted but elated. Marc first learned of the earthquake as he watched the morning news on Swiss TV, and within 50 hours his consignment of blankets and plastic sheeting had travelled from Berne to Zurich and then by charter flight to Ahmedabad, the state capital of Gujarat in northwest India. Wool blankets and plastic sheeting were distributed to hundreds of needy people who have been camped out in the open air for the past four days. Several aftershocks have struck the region and the roads are dotted with frightened, confused families, huddled around small fires. A steady stream of trucks are leaving Bhuj, loaded with whatever furniture and personal effects residents have been able to salvage from their destroyed homes. Anxious relatives arriving from other parts of the State in search of their familes only add to the confusion. Led by Dr. Morbia, Secretary of the Bhuj branch of the Indian Red Cross, a team of international Red Cross delegates and local volunteers began distributing the relief supplies. The first stop was a makeshift camp just outside of the town where about 1,200 Bhuj residents are now living. Their homes were severely damaged or destroyed in Friday's quake. Under several large tents, women and children gathered as the Red Cross truck arrived. Many of the camp's men were away; they spend the daylight hours back in Bhuj, guarding their damaged homes and shops from looters. One camp resident, Brijen Shah, helped the team unload the supplies. "I was in my home when the quake started, but I didn't have time to run out," he said. "My wife is 8 and a half months pregnant, and I had to stay with her." Fortunately, Shah's house did not collapse, and he, his wife and his unborn child escaped unharmed. Other camp residents had sadder tales of the hours and days after the quake, before help could arrive. "Inside the old city of Bhuj, I heard so many voices under the buildings," said one young man. "They cried, 'Help me, help me,' but we could not reach them." The old city was home to almost 70,000 people. It now lies deserted and destroyed, apart from a few residents who venture back to sift through the rubble for their belongings. The stench of decaying bodies is overpowering. The Red Cross relief truck then drove the rest of the supplies to Kali Talavadi, a small farming village about 10 km outside of town. Every home in the village of 1,700 is now uninhabitable -- the town is a mass of concrete and rubble. Kali Talavadi residents have set up a permanent camp for themselves on the outskirts of the town. Walking through the remains of the village, residents explained to Dr. Morbia that despite the total destruction, many of the people were able to escape the earthquake unharmed. Fortunately, most of the children were outside at the time of the quake, participating in an open-air Republic Day celebration near the village school. Others barely had time to run out of their tiny homes, into the street, before the walls caved in. In all, 10 villagers were killed and 25 were injured. As boxes of blankets and tarpaulins were unloaded, children played in the open air, among the rocks. "For now, they will live outside and cook group meals for each other, of rice and dahl. Much later, they will build a new village. But that will take time and money." explained Dr. S.P. Budhbhatti, a physician and member of the Indian Red Cross. "These are simple farming families." Related links India/Gujarat earthquake: Request for assistance More news and reports on Federation operations in India Make a donation |
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Most
medical facilities in Bhuj have been completely destroyed by the earthquake.
