Missing SA tourists: Gift of the Givers ready for Nepal rescue mission

Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers, say they preparing to deploy search-and-rescue teams to Nepal after a flash flood and mudslide left hundreds of tourists, including four South Africans, missing.

Following the devastating floods in Nepal, Gift of the Givers said it has received a call from the daughter of a South African couple who are missing, to assist in finding them.

The non-profit organisation said the couple was on holiday and the daughter was known to them.

Founder and chairperson of Gift of the Givers, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman said: “We spoke to the tour operator that hosted the couple; he confirmed that a second South African couple and several international tourists are missing and that thousands of homes, shopping malls and businesses have been washed away.”

Sooliman said helicopter surveillance was the only means of access as all roads had been totally destroyed.

But landing is not currently possible as there is no solid ground given the height of the water level.

He said they are aware of other South Africans in the region, but they are safe.

Sooliman said Ahmed Bham, Gift of the Givers’ head of search and rescue, is in communication with the Nepalese Disaster Management, as the organisation has a relationship with them after responding to the Nepal earthquake in 2015.

“They suggest that teams should remain on standby and not travel as the government has not made a call for international assistance as yet, but that may just be forthcoming once the true scale of the disaster is manifest in daylight hours.”

“Furthermore, there is a huge danger that a dam may collapse as a secondary impact, putting teams at enormous risk.”

He said that, in the meantime, Gift of the Givers has 11 urban search and water rescue team members ready for deployment, as well as four SAPS dog handlers and four dogs authorised by the deputy national police commissioner, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili.

“We are in touch with the Nepalese Embassy in SA, which is prepared to process visas with immediate effect, but we are holding on until a call for international assistance is made.”

The disaster site is 125km from the capital, Kathmandu, and all operations will be managed from there by the military.

Sooliman said they are working with airline companies in preparation for logistical arrangements.