The frustration.

Closely tracking the flights online and seeing the inbound flights to Kathmandu making that big painful loop when the next aftershock came made it too unsafe to land. So far, there has only been a five-hour delay out of Abu Dhabi, but I am still a realist. Knowing what we can do, having a sense of what is needed, the frustration of not being able to get there quick enough and be there, is painful. A WFP team from Bangkok hit the ground running a few hours ago; the staff in the country office are shaken but clearly on the ball. We are grateful for small mercies: the office is still standing and comms are up and running.

Our ICT colleagues, too, are ok. With all the work done over the past years and months, the WFP team is now operating with the government directly from the prepared office and warehouse facilities at the airport. Comms are up through the VSAT put in last year and cellphone networks are providing those comforting bars in the window but network is already beginning to get congested (note to all: use sms!).

Seeing the faces at the airport as I'm trying to board slams home the impact of the earthquake. A couple fully geared up for their hiking vacation seem understandably nervous about the timing of their decision while numerous Nepalese expats are trying to make it home to their families. It is a sea of red eyes, serious faces and curious looks over my shoulder while I'm looking at the latest news update online. Airline staff are trying to help but not knowing how and immigration saying, ‘Thank you for what you're doing' makes me feel like some undeserved hero.

Teams across the world are working their usual magic behind the scenes. Equipment is being packed up and getting ready to be shipped, operational documentation is magically appearing, budgets are being drafted, partners are getting ready to deploy with staff, contingency plans are being pulled out of the drawer and put in to action, equipment and skills are being identified, aircrafts being chartered, people airing out their sleeping bags and tents.

Yes, it's what we do and we do it.           

By Oscar Caleman, deployed ETC Coordinator in Nepal