KUALA LUMPUR: The 40-member Malaysian Armed Forces Medical Team’s humanitarian mission in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, provided a different experience for the Malaysian contingent in the volatile nation.
HANDING OVER: Norazan (left) receives a handing over of the block document from Mohamed Yussof. — Bernama photo
For the first time members of Malaysian security forces set foot in Afghanistan following the host government’s invitation to a non-Nato contingent to help its people and redevelop the war-torn state.
The mission was a baptism of fire for the Malaysian Armed Forces that have earned an enviable reputation in its peace keeping role in Somalia, Bosnia, Cambodia, Timor Leste, Western Sahara, Namibia and Lebanon.
However, this time it was more of a humanitarian role under the Malaysian Contingent International Security Assistance Force (MALCON ISAF) where the contingent provided healthcare and taught the locals on healthcare and the importance of sanitation.
Seven officers and 33 members of other ranks including seven women were involved in the interim humanitarian operation with the contingent stationed in the Bamyan region located in central Afghanistan.
The Malaysian Contingent is working hand-in-hand with the Regional Redevelopment Team from New Zealand with both teams spending six to nine months there.
Getting there is a whole new experience.
About 500 friends and relatives of the second group of 30 members congregated at the Royal Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base in Subang on Oct 19 last year to send them off for the mission.
Earlier, the first group of 10-member advance party left on July 16 to get ready the facilities for the team to operate in Bamiyan.
Two of RMAF’s Hercules C-130 aircraft known in the aviation circles as Charlie ferried the team for the first leg of their 50-hour journey.
The aircraft first headed to Qatar carrying along 18.4 tonnes of necessities and medical equipment for the tour of duty.
An hour after leaving Subang, the planes made a stopover in Maldives before continuing another five hours to Qatar’s Al-Udeid air base which was once used by the US forces to launch attacks on Iraq.
The stopover here is to request permission to enter Afganistan’s airspace and to switch aircraft as only US operated aircraft is allowed to ferry them to their final destination.
Nonetheless, the team was quite happy with the cooperation provided by the Qatar and the American authorities in giving the green light.
After being held up for more 24 hours by the paperwork, changes in the weather and in switching aircraft, the Malaysian team arrived at Bamiyan Air Base on Oct 22 at about 11.45am local time in a US Air Force C130.
Their arrival was greeted by Regional Redevelopment Team’s director Richard Newland and the MALCON ISAF commander Lt Col Norazan Omar.
The three building blocks belonging to the Malaysian team at the New Zealand Regional Redevelopment Camp in Bamiyan will serve as the team’s base throughout the duration of their stay there.
Lt Col Norazan Omar said: “This facility is very comfortable and the most comprehensive in Bamiyan, ready with water, electricity and internet.”
The three blocks come complete with living quarters, kitchen, dining hall, surau, toilets and office blocks.
Maj (R) Mohamed Yussof Datuk Tahwil Azar, the managing director for Urusan Dwi Makna Sdn Bhd, the company appointed to build the three blocks, said work on the blocks started on Sept 1 and was completed within 45 days.
The construction work undertaken through Afghan Bamica Construction Company utilised Malaysian engineering expertise and involved 50 to 80 local workers.
Mohamed Yussof noted that the biggest challenge in the undertaking is bringing in the equipment as there were no proper roads.
As the camp is located 9,200 feet above sea level and Afghanistan faces severe winter from October to March, the extreme drop in temperature poses a serious challenge for team members.
MALCON-ISAF’s Head of Medical Logistics Maj. Hassan Masro pointed out the freezing temperature
that can reach -40 degree Celsius by mid January could pose problems to team members.
“All team members are provided with winter clothing and have been trained mentally and physically to face this challenge,” he said.
Nonetheless, the camp’s location high above sea level provides a spectacular panorama of the hilly terrain below including the famous silk road passing through the foothills that was once used by traders between Europe and China.
Other than that due to the change in the time zone, there is a five hour difference between Bamiyan and Malaysia and thus the team have adjusted their bed time, meal times and prayer time for the next six months.
The team has learned many of the local customs that is far different unlike back home.
In Bamiyan one of the customs is that the men and women are segregated in all activities outside home and thus a male doctor can only treat a male patient and a female doctor can only treat a female patient.
The locals were initially reluctant to approach the Malaysian team members or to receive treatment at the clinic but after a while they became familiar with the team.
MALCON ISAF’s Medical Officer Maj Dr Mohammad Azim Che Azmi observed that the locals were ignorant on healthcare and sanitation and they have been used to living in deplorable condition all this while.
He elaborated that the team is not here to change their ways but to raise awareness on the importance of personal hygiene.
The medical team also found that there is a lack of doctors and nurses here and they have to attend to all the ailments even when the aliments are not in the area of their specialisation. – Bernama
Bamiyan with a population of 60,000 lacks maternity nurses, ophthalmologist, dietitians and general healthcare practitioners and faces the constant threat of deadly diseases like tuberculosis, malaria and typhoid.
The medical team also observed that Bamiyan is in serious need of international help in developing infrastructure like roads and hospitals.
While developing the infrastructure here poses a challenge due to the elevation and extreme weather, this region is known to the world for its historical Buddha monuments recognised by UNESCO and thus holds good potential to emerge as a tourism district.
Malaysia’s impeccable record in international peacekeeping and humanitarian mission prompted the Afghan authorities to invite Malaysia to provide healthcare for its citizens.
Bamiyan’s governor Habiba Sarabi said Malaysia’s expertise in this field and the common Islamic background that both nations shared were among the factors that impressed the Afghan government.
Habiba appreciated Malaysia’s acceptance of the offer though the area where the Malaysian team is stationed lacks clean water, electricity, roads that are dusty and filled with stones.
He also hoped that Malaysian investors would consider undertaking development in the district in areas like eco-tourism and food industries.
Bamiyan has many interesting sites to see and also known for its potatoes.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the team in Afghanistan would be expanded from 40 to 120 in due course with a third team joining in.
“We are also in talks with third parties to jointly sponsor the facilities and the cost in maintaining the team there as the whole exercise is very costly.”
“During the recent courtesy call by the British army general, I asked his assistance to look for parties that can help share the cost and if possible we want other Muslim nations like Indonesia and Brunei to join in our mission,” he said.
MALCON ISAF’s mission is no small feat when looking at the challenges that the team have to face in Afghanistan and at the same time in maintaining Malaysia sterling record in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions in foreign land. — Bernama