The Chinese International Search and Rescue Team sent help
victims of Indonesia's recent earthquake, returned to Beijing
Friday afternoon by charter plane after completing its 18-day
relief mission.
China sent to Indonesia on May 29 a team of medical workers,
professional rescuers and seismologists, after a 6.4-magnitude
quake struck the country's ancient royal city of Yogyakarta and
surrounding areas on May 27.
The 44-member team arrived in Bantul, southern town in
Yogyakarta, where two-thirds of the more than 6,200 casualties
live. They brought with them five tons of medical supplies.
Over the last 17 days, the Chinese medical workers set up a
mobile hospital to treat the injured and carry out epidemic
prevention in the earthquake-devastated areas.
Over 3,000 Indonesian received medical assistance from the
Chinese doctors and nurses. The Chinese medical workers also helped
train local medical staff, said Zhao Heping, head of the Chinese
relief team, who is also deputy director of the China Seismological
Bureau.
In addition, the team made suggestions to the Indonesian
government on how to rebuild after a careful evaluation of the
disaster, said Zhao.
"It is so good to be back at home, but I will missing the days
in Bantul" said Wang Qian, a 34-year-old doctor, who was on her
third overseas rescue operation with the team.
"I feel so sorry for the quake victims, especially the old and
the children. Although I worked at least 12 hours a day there, I'm
happy I could help," said Wang.
Indonesian ambassador to China, Sudrajat, attended a welcoming
ceremony at Beijing's Capital International Airport. He praised and
thanked the Chinese rescuers for their efforts to deepen the
traditional friendship between the two countries.
"When Indonesians were suffering, we had sisters and brothers
from China come to help us. You (the rescue team members) are not
only heroes for the Chinese people, but also our heroes," said the
ambassador.
The rescue team has also won high praise with its consummate
medical skills and effectiveness in treating the quake survivors,
said Chen Jianmin, general director of the China Seismological
Bureau.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met with
representatives of the rescue team during their stay, said
Chen.
The Chinese International Rescue Team was jointly set up by the
China Seismological Bureau, an engineering unit of the People's
Liberation Army and the General Hospital of the Armed Police in
2001. The latest operation is the fifth overseas mission for the
team.
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(Xinhua News Agency June 17, 2006)