Karine normally works as a a doctor in injury department in Oslo. The employer gave her a chance to help earthquake victims in Indonesia.
-My tasks will be to map the needs and to treat fracture and crushing injuries, – said Karine for Leger Uten Grenser. – And we must be prepared for possible outbreaks of disease.
Suddenly and unexpectedly
The 32 year old doctor had previously worked with MSF in the Democratic Republic of Congo. – This is quite a different mission, – says Karine, left. – Congo has been struggling with a difficult humanitarian situation in many years, while the disaster in Indonesia struck suddenly and unexpectedly. Karine will be working on the island of Sumatra for a month. -It will be a challenge to stand right in the disaster area and all the suffering this earthquake has brought, says Karine. -But the important thing now is to help those suffering.
Indonesia: places that lack help prioritised
20 aid workers from Doctors Without Borders arrived in the affected areas on Saturday. Surgeons, kidney specialists, nurses, psychologists and logistics are part of the MSF team in Sumatra. Aid workers are now mapping needs in and around the city of Padang. Help is reaching Padang from both the Indonesian authorities and abroad. MSF has examined the situation at the hospitals in Padang, which has already received considerable assistance. The aid organization is now underway to map the needs of the surrounding areas.
Disturbing in Pariaman
The situation in the town of Pariaman is very disturbing. Located about 50 kilometers north of Padang, Pariaman is among the hardest hit areas. In the countryside around Pariaman, several villages have been completely destroyed by landslides. Aid workers have huge problems to reach the area. Aid supplies are on the way to Sumatra. MSF focuses on the most urgent needs in the areas that still lack aid.
