European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 16, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A Navy doctor begins examining an apprehensive somali girl. A Glimmer of Hope restored . Medical and construction teams help breathe new life into a tattered somalian Village by Steve scholar staff writer weren t for the americans Many people in our Village would be dead. They d be buried along with 700 others who be died in the last two years said somalian Ahmed Abdulle. In the Remote Village of Lafoley something special is happening. Despite almost insurmountable Odds this Bullet riddled dilapidated Fly infested Hovel of huts is gradually being infused with an intangible Quality called Hope. A 16-year-old girl facing amputation of both legs manages a smile. A child with no upper lip manages to play a somalian version of hide and seek. And a dying old Man with a spindly body and sunken face manages a wave. Although much of this newfound Hope can be directly attributed to the Success of operation restore Hope a lion s share goes to 11 medical care providers from the 1 St Navy service support croup from Camp Pendleton calif., and attached to the 7th engr support in while in Somalia and their weekly visits to the Village s Hospital to provide care. Team members led by surgeon or. Capt John Mitas say they find their visits to the Village extremely satisfying yet emotionally draining. We see somali patients with everything from gunshot wounds to malaria to tuberculosis. Mostly it s tuberculosis Mitas said. The medical team spends four hours a week caring for villagers who had t seen a doctor or dentist in years if Ever. One such patient was 11 year old Zena Serif who was being examined by a dentist for the first time in her life. Although it was just an exam tears rolled Clown her parched face for the few minutes she sat in the dentist s chair. It appeared that no amount of coaxing can convince her to return for the seven cavities that should be filled. Or. Cmdr Howard Fischer said Zena is a rarity. They Start lining up at the Hospital s door hours before we arrive. Because there Are so Many to be seen not everyone gets treated. That s the worst part. It s like putting a band Aid on a gunshot wound he said. The Village Hospital has a local doctor and several nurses but they work with few medications no electricity intermittent running water abhorrent sanitation conditions All in a Village Rife with disease. Unicof food shipments now arrive regularly and the Outlook is Good for a continued uninterrupted food Supply. While Mitas and his team tend to the villagers medical needs chief warrant officer 4 Anthony Rivera and 12 other Marine construction specialists from the 7th s engr support in at Camp Pendleton try to make living conditions More bearable. The villagers asked if we could help them build a Kitchen school and addition to the Hospital Rivera said. Using plywood and 2-by-4s Over a Concrete base the Kitchen was built in four Days. It is surrounded by a Fence to keep out the Village s animals and is used primarily to store Large pots and pans. Unlike Western cultures Rivera said Cornalis do All their cooking outside Over Timber fires. The construction cadre also has recently completed a four room schoolhouse. Rivera said the Village elders have been very appreciative of the work they be done. They be helped carry Wood and done anything they could to help he said. For both the medical and construction teams the work in Lafoley is secondary to military duties. Our main role is to be Able to set up operations at austere locations. Sometimes though these secondary missions Are More fun. It does t matter if anyone knows what we be done Here. We know Rivera said. The Hospital addition is on hold while the engineers scrounge for surplus materials. Military projects Are the first priority when allocating building supplies. In this Village built of pieces of tin and other castoffs the work of the americans seems to be having a lasting Impact. Seeing the americans Here makes us very Happy " said Abdulle. They Are our friends. Although we Don t have electricity it is like a Light bulb is flickering. Someday we Hope it will bum  the Village of Lafoley has few permanent structures. Most residents live in huts and lean tos. The Kitchen above was built by marines. At left school is in sesson. Marine sgt. Kurtis Shane left and Lance Cut. Ruben Bernal Complete a Gate for the Kitchen Fence. Is photos by Gary Miller cmdr. Howard Fischer a Navy dentist examines or. Haw Abdi Diblase the area s Only physician. Navy corpsman Jesse Lego a chief Petty officer examines a patient at Lafoley. 18 the stars and stripes tuesday the stars and stripes 19