November 23, 2009 22:14 PM

MAF Medical Team Back Home After Challenging Western Sahara Mission

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 (Bernama) -- "Hanging on to dear life" was how members of the Malaysian Medical Unit (MMU) 7 described their six-month tour of duty with the United Nations (UN) in Western Sahara.

Landmines, a different climate and sandstorms were among the challenges faced by the nine officers and 11 men of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) who took part in the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) since May 22.

MMU 7 commander, Lt Colonel Dr. Amaradran William Davis Dass, 45, said the extreme desert climate left them very cold at night and very hot in the day, with temperatures reaching up to 65 degrees Celcius.

"We also faced the danger of being bitten by double-horned snakes and landmines which were scattered everywhere, as well as emergency calls requiring us to move from camp to camp," he told reporters here Monday.

He said in late August, a Malaysian soldier was in a UN vehicle with Pakistani soldiers when a landmine exploded, injuring his face.

"We were at the main camp in Laayoune at the time and rushed to the scene in Oumdregra, which was a three-hour journey by air and land, to provide treatment," he said, adding that the vehicle was destroyed in the blast.

Laayoune is the biggest town in Western Sahara, an area included in the UN's list of non-self governing territories.

Meanwhile, Medical Officer Capt Dr Hamiza Hassan, one of nine women who took part in MMU 7, expressed gratitude for not encountering difficulties during her time in the turbulent territory.

She said the challenges and obstacles faced would be just another experience in her life.

"My experience in Western Sahara was interesting, we all learnt and went through all kinds of experiences during the six months there, including how to communicate with a variety of foreigners as we frequently treated patients from various countries," she said.

Meanwhile, Joint Forces Commander Lt General Datuk Allatif Mohd Noor said the quality and professionalism displayed by the Malaysian medical team had gained the confidence of members of the UN and locals there.

The MMU 7 was responsible for extending medical aid to over 450 soldiers and locals, including treatment of inpatients and outpatients and handling emergencies, medical lab facilities, X-ray machine, pharmaceuticals and also dental treatment.

The Malaysian team carried out their duty in Western Sahara from May 22 to Nov 15 and returned home on Nov 19.

-- BERNAMA

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