The first team comprising of 43 members for search and rescue had arrived in Kathmandu earlier.

The teams are running seven theatres in five hospitals carrying out major surgical procedures, according to the non-profit organisation, while the rescue team searches through the city and deep into the rural areas marking out buildings where victims lay buried.

“A primary health care team is touring several mountainous areas, carrying out house visits and doing outreach programmes for certain hospitals. Patients and their families coming from distant rural areas to the city hospital for medical care are hungry,” the organisation said.

Gift of the Givers is also providing two meals a day for the patients and their families. This is in addition to food parcels which have been packed for distribution to those in distant areas.

Available: http://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/gift-givers-saving-lives-nepal