REPORT
FROM THE SECOND TEAM AT SKOPJE
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REPORT
FROM THE SECOND TEAM AT SKOPJE
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The present ( 2nd ) team
have been at Skopje Airport Macedonia since 22/5/99.
Most of our time has been taken up by unloading planes laden with humanitarian aid ( tents, clothing, food, medicines and vehicles ) destined for Kosovo. The most common aircraft tackled are:
By now the team have their
technique down to a fine art and on Thursday 16th June they set a record of
1hr and 40mins to unload an Ilushin laden with 50 tons of tents each weighing
135kg ! This is a time that will be difficult to beat. The gauntlet has been
thrown down to the team destined to replace us on 22.6.99.
On quiet days the team has been constructing Oxfam water tanks at Cegrane refugee
camp about 40km outside Skopje. Last week the team became real baggage handlers
when they helped the civilian airport staff to unload passenger aircraft. Due
to the increase in military aircraft using the airport, civilian flights were
crammed into a 3-4 hour slot in the afternoon and the airport staff were finding
it difficult to cope with the heavy workload.
Working days are spent
wearing T-shirts, shorts, caps and safety boots, as the weather has been so
hot. Four season sleeping bags have been "very useful", it has been so hot in
the nights that the team members sleep on top of their bags.
When possible, team members have taken the opportunity to go down to the town of Skopje, 17km away. Food and replicated designer clothing is very cheap, a meal and 2 pints of local beer costs approximately 400 dinar (100dinar = 1pound).
The team has enjoyed the experience and are grateful for the opportunity offered to them. The last 4 weeks have flown by, but by next Friday ( 25-6-99 ) we will be ready for the flight back home to the U.K. We eagerly await the arrival of our relief's sometime before then.
Regards
Eric Harries for "The Lost Boys 2"
Skopje Airport Unloading Team