MSF-Holland Head of Mission in Pakistan awarded ‘Star of Sacrifice’

The following announcement appeared in a recent edition of the MSF electronic news update “Over and Out:”

"Former MSF-Holland Head of Mission in Pakistan, Martin Braaksma, was awarded the Sitara-i-Eisaar (Star of Sacrifice) medal by the Pakistani government. Braaksma was one of the 109 individuals, military staff and organisations awarded the prize for their efforts to assist the victims in the aftermath of the Kashmir earthquake. In a mass ceremony last Friday, the current MSF-Holland Head of Mission, Joe Belliveau, received the medal on behalf of MSF-Holland from Pakistani President Musharraf."

Joe sent us an email with the following observations:

* The award says, "In the Service of Humanity" on one side and "Pakistan Earthquake, 8 October 2005, From a Grateful Nation" on the other. It's kinda heavy; I think it's real metal.

* The recipients included a vast range of people from a young Turkish girl who donated her gold bangle to businessmen who became humanitarians, a fruit vendor who worked several days non-stop digging people out of rubble, a cop from the town of Balakot, the United Nations family, a man who lost his family but continued helping, a woman who runs a private hospital, the guy who tried so hard to get the electricity back on in Muzaffarabad (looked like he may have zapped himself a few times), and the guy who was in charge of clearing the roads of rubble. And, of course, there were dozens and dozens of generals, majors, brigadiers and colonels all flaunting their decorations like peacocks.

* Aside from being far too long and starting to sweat in my new suit, I kind of enjoyed it.