CORINE RECOVERS

Back in Opuwo and finally ‘normal’ internet again. Lately it has been practically impossible to update our blog. So, here’s a quick update on Corine’s situation.

After a sleepless night with a lot, a lot of pain, we bring Corine, after she has climbed out of our roof tent with great difficulty, to a safari tent at the lodge. We place her on a bed. A small mobile air conditioner provides a bit of coolness. It will be a day of recovery, while the power of the scorpion’s paralyzing venom slowly decreases. The extreme fear also diminishes and we are convinced that there is no longer any immediate danger to life. Corine, despite her autoimmune disease, is on the mend. This process takes 2 days and we then decide to move on to another campsite a little further upstream on the Kunene River. Here we settle under a large tree that provides some shade. Corine actually only suffers from her foot and lower leg. It’s only a matter of time before we can complete our mission, despite a few days’ delay. Finally, a quiet night in our own roof tent. At least… In the morning, we wake up by a loud cracking of branches, followed by a huge thud on the ground. We looked at each other in fright and said at the same time: “There, that’s down!” Shortly afterwards we hear the camp manager running towards us shouting: “It’s an emergency call. Leave your tent immediately and drive your car backwards.” When we climbed out of the tent, we saw the devastation. A large part of the tree had broken off and was lying right next to our car. Other branches were still dangling from the tree. Phew, we had escaped death twice in a few days.

On the way to Opuwo we visit a school in Ehombo, where there is not only a great need for teaching materials, but also for meals for the children. After leaving behind some flour, rice and other food, we visit two more remote Himba villages where we distribute the remainder of our supplies. Here in Opuwo we are preparing for the next transports, visiting the local hospital and a local initiative in which severely malnourished children, who can no longer tolerate solid food, are provided with a soup meal every day. There is still plenty to do. However, the Christmas/summer holidays of those who help us here are delaying our help.