"They didn't even have the chance to cut the umbilical cord"
12 January 2011
Jean Paul
During the earthquake I was in the middle of teaching class at school. That was the first time I ever felt the ground shake beneath me and it was a terrifying moment for everyone. As we all ran out of the building all I was able to hear was everyone shouting “God!” and “Jesus”.
The school was next to a hospital and I just went outside and collapsed to the ground.
When I came round I saw nurses, doctors and patients in the street, shocked at what they were seeing. One woman was giving birth to twins as the earthquake happened and she came out of the hospital holding one baby, the father holding the other, but they were still attached to her. They hadn’t even had the chance to cut the umbilical cord.
I was on my way to another hospital, taking some survivors to get treatment, when I saw a schoolgirl who had broken both her arms. There was no space in the hospital for her so she hung out in front of the hospital. Three days later she died from a combination of thirst, hunger and suffering – she had no money and nobody to help her.
I lost my job in the earthquake but thankfully I am better off than most as I found a job working for Islamic Relief ever since the day they started operating in the country. Initially I thought that they would just be working here for a week or month, but one year has passed and they are still here, determined to reach the most vulnerable. But life is still a struggle because so many of my family members and friends depend on my support.
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