the rescue

I can now write more of our time in Naran. The posts will most likely be out of chronological order because I will write about different aspects as I am able psychologically. Currently Big Jim and I are perplexed by many of the media reports that portray complete chaos and lack of aid. Perhaps we were incredibly fortunate because we saw none of this in Naran or Kaghan, where we managed to travel to Sunday and get word to my parents that we were okay. In both of these places, the FWO---equivalent to the Army Corp of Engineers---were incredibly well organized and managed to clear roads and repair power lines almost immediately after the earthquake. Our rescue helicopter was packed with tents, food, and water, which we dropped in Kaghan and Mansehra along our way to Islamabad. What is needed is more helicopters, which is now the only way to reach the remote areas. Friends have asked for my suggestions as to where to make donations. I recommend the following: Doctors without Borders International http://www.msf.org/ International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies http://www.ifrc.org Unicef http://www.unicef.org/ There also are currently local relief funds being set up in Pakistan; however, at this time I can find no easy way for foreigners to make donations. If I do, I will add the links here. Now onto the most joyous part of our journey: the rescue. Monday as Big Jim and I were finishing breakfast, we heard a helicopter making its way through the valley. We jumped up with tremendous excitement, leaving our half-drunk cups of tea behind. Again, we had the good fortune of being just one mile away from the army helicopter pad. People rushed to the site, although we stayed behind, awaiting word. This helicopter was not for us but rather to take the injured villagers to where they could be treated. There is no doctor in Naran. Obviously, we were all happy to wait some more; the site of the first helicopter was more than enough to buoy spirits. At 2 pm, we received word from our hero, the FWO commander in Naran, Officer Shakeel, that a helicopter would next be sent for us and the other stranded foreigners: a French diplomat and his caretaker, as well as three Chinese journalists. We quickly packed and headed to the helicopter pad. Where we waited. And waited. A few hours later, we heard sounds of a chopper but it never appeared. Officer Shakeel advised us that it most likely picked up injured people in Kaghan and headed back south. The weather was also beginning to turn, so there might not be another rescue attempt until Tuesday. Again, we were fine with this news; just knowing the army was trying to get us out was sufficient to keep everyone's mood high. Two of the drivers walked back to get vehicles to transport us back to the camp, and then we again heard the helicopter. And then we saw the helicopter! It landed just off the pad, and the copilot jumped off, asking whether we were the foreigners. We said we were, and we were told to get on board. He tried to push Nasir away, but Big Jim said he was with us and pulled up Nasir behind him. Once we took off, I allowed myself to cry for the first time since the quake hit. And after we were advised we were being taken all the to Islamabad, not just to Mansehra as we had been told previously, the tears came again. When we finally landed in Islamabad, it was at the VIP section of the air force base. There we were asked to sign a register, and there were many volunteers providing drinks and making sure we and the other evacuees (there was a constant stream of helicopters taking off and landing with people) were okay. They arranged transportation to the airport, from where we could get taxis. By 6:45 pm, we were back at the Nokia house, much to the relief of Big Jim's frantic colleagues, who had not received word of our safety. Big Jim is out with Nasir at the moment---they had to break the very bad news to the car rental agent that the car will be stuck in Naran until next April or May. The FWO team estimated it will take at least two months for the road to be repaired, but because of the harsh winters in that area, this cannot happen until next year. I leave for today with photos from the rescue. Hasta pronto, mylifeinspain
The gang from the camp, just after we had the news that a helicopter would be arriving to rescue us. Big Jim and I are in front; Nasir is standing behind Big Jim.
Waiting for the helicopter.
Our hero, Officer Shakeel.
The helipad at Naran.
The supplies we dropped in Kaghan. Here we also picked up several Pakistani evacuees and took them to Mansehra.
Chen and Li on the helicopter.
Nasir, nervous on the helicopter. Poor guy---we subjected him to his first horse ride, his first earthquake, and his first helicopter ride on this trip.
As we neared Islamabad, the temperature rose dramatically; hence, my strip-off midflight.
Lights of Islamabad as we approached the air force base. :-)