update -- 2 pm Thai time

 

As of last night, almost all of the people injured in this natural disaster had either returned to their home countries or been transferred to hospitals in Bangkok. This meant that most volunteers were sent to work at one of three temples where they spoke to families and friends of missing persons and asked them to describe in detail the dear ones they were looking for. Al spent the day at one temple housing some 300 bodies. All temples together, a total of about 3,000 bodies laying out in the sun for over five days... Medical teams started warning about the risk of disease and it was decided that families and friends should be re-directed to another city so as to minimize the risk of exposure. Al and his team spent part of the day creating posters warning of the biohazard and translating them into six languages.

 

This morning the volunteers all moved to Phuket -- another affected area about one-hour-and-a-half away -- where the main centre of operations is now located. Al said that things are finally getting organized and everything is moving quickly. The new centre of operations is in a large field, with tables set up by embassies from all affected nations, and free, roasted chicken for all to eat. After surviving on chips and chocolate bars for the last five days, it is good news for the volunteers.

 

Relatives and friends of the missing are now flying in from all over Europe, the USA and Canada. Al's team is meeting these people, translating when necessary and obtaining details regarding the people they are looking for. It is a very emotional time as shock has given way to grief for these family members who are desperate to find their loved ones. Volunteer psychologists are at hand to help. At times, the teams are able to connect people with those they are looking for.  Still, thousands of photos remain on the walls.

 

Yesterday as the team was leaving the temple, two French men pulled up on a motorcycle. They told Al they could identify one of the photos they had seen at the police station. It turns out that on the day of the accident, they found a body being looted by some guys on the beach. After grabbing the looters, they found the dead man's wallet was already taken but were able to retrieve a the chain that had been on his neck. On the chain was a engraved the man's name and date of birth! An important connection that will mean a lot to his family.

 

Al also met a German man in his 60s looking for his Thai wife. After days of looking for his sweetheart, he was very distraught and just about falling apart. He begged the team to come back to the temple the next day so he could bring them a photo of his wife. They assured him they would be there. The next day, Al watched as the man painfully tried to recall every single physical detail about his wife, anything that might positively identify her. He said he wanted to look through photos taken by the forensics team. Al tried to discourage him from that, citing the state of the already-decomposing bodies. The man responded, "I've been walking through fields of bodies for the last four days. I can handle this."

 

I fight back tears every time I talk to Al on the phone. So many stories of loss, so little hope left for most of the people he is meeting.

 

Thank you for your prayers...

Joane