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SINGAPORE: Singapore is planning an integrated Team Singapore relief mission for future disaster aid, even as it sends in more help to countries recently hit by disasters.
A 23-strong medical team returned from Myanmar last week where they treated nearly 5,000 victims of Cyclone Nargis.
During their two-week stay there, the Singapore relief workers had to work without electricity and power generators.
Amran Amir, Senior Administrator, Singapore Red Cross, said: “We were not too sure of what to expect because we did not do any official recce of the area itself. We also did not know what we were going to face so whatever we have with the load, we just have to make do.”
Amran’s recent trip to Myanmar was especially worrying for his family, mainly due to communications difficulties. They couldn't reach him on his mobile phone. However, Amran was able to call home every other day using a local phone from the Myanmar authorities.
Doctors and nurses treated up to 600 sick and injured each day.
And they said they could not have done it without the operations staff from charities like Mercy Relief and Singapore Red Cross that helped to co-ordinate transport and buy medical supplies. The two non-government agencies said they have over 20 staff and volunteers who are experienced with operations, administration and logistics support in disaster relief.
There are now plans to pool all resources from government and non-government agencies to form a Team Singapore mission for future disaster relief.
Dr Fatimah Lateef, Director, Mercy Relief, said: “For example, for doctors and nurses, we're trained to do what we do professionally, that is to treat patients, to do nursing drops and all that. But logistically, from the operations perspective, we may not be very well versed except for some of us who are very experienced.
“The logisticians can scout for transport. Sometimes, we also procure our products and supplies on the ground in the local country we're in. And it's a lot easier if we can transport all the stuff that we need. So for example, in the recent Myanmar case, we have our logisticians go down to Yangon to look for pharmaceutical supplies and that would cost a lot cheaper."
Dr Fatimah hopes the Team Singapore initiative can be achieved through more idea-sharing forums amongst the different agencies. - CNA/vm
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