French medical workers working in quake-hit Guangyuan City in southwest China's Sichuan Province say they have been impressed by the optimism and hospitality of local people.
"People smile and invite us for dinner at their homes or bring us hot jiaozi, even if it was the first time they saw us on street," said Lieutenant Colonel Pierre de Villeneuve, head of the French medical team.
"Even in the most remote corners of the city, we see calm and confidence in people's faces," said de Villeneuve. "It is very busy here but everything is in order."
He arrived in Guangyuan on May 25 with the other 12 team members, including four doctors, four nurses, two assistant medical workers and two technicians.
After five days of working in the Central Hospital of Guangyuan, de Villeneuve was impressed by the Chinese government's ability to organize rescue and disaster relief work. "They even arranged chartered trains to transfer patients to other cities."
He said when he first arrived, he was surprised by the large number of tents for local people and those who had been evacuated from more badly-hit areas. "And there are so many volunteers, from teenagers to senior people, helping out in the hospitals."
Doctor Guillaume Houel said the emergency treatment work was heavy job and he had to work 12 hours and treat more than six injured people a day. "Sometimes we have to go out and search for injured people. We went for 60 kilometers to carry back a patient."
On Tuesday morning, an aftershock measuring above 5 magnitude struck, and almost all the people in the hospital dashed out. Houel saw a 22-year-old handicapped girl, who clung to her father unable to move.
"We rushed to help the girl, and sent her to the emergency room to treat her wounds," Houel said. Another aftershock occurred, but the girl could not be moved during the treatment. So Chinese volunteers and the French doctor stayed and comforted her, until everything was calm.
"That was the most moving episode of my work here," he said.
De Villeneuve said: "The hospital's hygiene is good, and the local government has taken measures to prevent the outbreak of diseases. So I am not worried that there will be any major outbreaks of epidemics."
With the help of Chinese volunteers, the team members have got used to the Chinese food and life in Guangyuan. "We can even have a cup of coffee from time to time. You know, French people are used to drinking coffee. So all our team members think this is a pleasant surprise," de Villeneuve said.
"We get along well with the locals and volunteers. The only problem is language barrier," he said.
When asked if he was afraid of the frequent aftershocks, Dr. Houel said: "It would be a lie if I said 'no, not at all'. But we are here to help, not to hide."
(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2008)