Led by Dr. Mark Stinson, Medicine International (MI) doctors provided medical care through mobile clinics in the hardest hit area of the Gujarat earthquake. MI worked with various other international groups to coordinate medical care, shelter, and water purification.
An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale shook the Indian Province of Gujarat on the morning of January 26, 2001. The epicenter was the town of Bhuj. One month after the earthquake, official government of India figures placed the death toll at 19,727 and the number of injured at 166,000. Indications were that 600,000 people were left homeless, with 348,000 houses destroyed. An additional 844,000 homes were damaged. More than 20,000 cattle were reported killed.
Within one week of the earthquake, Ahmedabad police had registered 37 cases of culpable homicide and criminal conspiracy against builders, architects, and engineers of buildings that collapsed in the earthquake.
Medicine International acted quickly. Dr. Scott Schmidt was already traveling in India and went immediately to the site. Within several days, Drs. Mark Stinson, Vindi Singh, Carl D'mato, Michael Mouri and Herbert Sigmond left for India with several hundred pounds of medications. Relief International (RI) supplied satellite phones, medicines, and dressings. A rapid medical relief effort was instituted including mobile medical clinics to villages within the Kutch region.
The response from doctors and medical NGO's was massive. A large number of medical teams and thousands of Indian physicians arrived within the 2 two weeks with many more willing to come. MI supported numerous temporary clinics with supplies and expertise. We went with various Indian doctors to remote villages and supported numerous temporary hospitals through the earthquake zone.
The majority of the survivors were forced to sleep outside or sleep in makeshift shelters, or left the area to stay with family and friends. Many stayed close to the rubble of their former homes waiting for government helps. We met with a local NGO in order to write grants for providing immediate shelters in phase one and for rebuilding schools and hospitals in phase two. RI dispatched a shelter expert to the area. We met with the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and presented our findings and recommendations concerning USAID monies to be spent in the area.