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Angola Diary
19th - 23rd of November 2001
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19th November
Monteiro did not work he was feverish and spent the whole day in bed. The medics did routine checks and find that there was nothing serious. He was advised to rest and so as to be fit for the next day. 20:30 he had dinner with the rest of the team and felt fine for the day to come.
20th November
Monteiro woke up at 05:00 and spent time talking to the guards while he waited for the rest of the team to wake up. At 05:45, he had porridge for breakfast. He was happy to be back on form. At 06:00 Monteiro, together with the team left to the minefield. He was briefed by the supervisor and was assigned to his lane, he gladly took it only to find that the ground was contaminates, therefore, he changed methods (detector to excavation). Monteiro cleared 2 meters, and did not find any mine.
13:00 he went back to the base for lunch, he rested until 15:45, and staid home listening to the music with his colleagues. At 19:00, Monteiro had dinner, and went to bed at 21:00.
21st November
Monteiro woke up at 05:00, washed himself. It started raining when the team was preparing to take breakfast. For this reason, they left the base a little later than the usual (06:45). After rehearsal at 07:20, Monteiro was assigned to his lane, today; his lane was free of metal contamination so, he worked with detector.
He investigated his first signal at 09:00 approximately. It was AK 47 cartridges. Monteiro cleared 6m2. He left for lunch at 13:45, and had lunch (pasta and beans) at 14:15. Monteiro rested for two hours, and went for a walk around the neighborhood until 18:00. Monteiro returned to the base at 18:20 to switch the generator on. He had dinner at 21:00, and switched the generator off at 22:00 approximately, and went to bed.
22nd November
Monteiro woke up at 05:15, washed and had breakfast. At 05:30 the team left the base to the minefield. The second phase of the minefield involved going a long way around the bridge. Monteiro helped casual workers to do small road repair for the easy access of the Land Rover. He was assigned to his lane and used his detector to do the work as the ground offered good working conditions. He cleared 7m2, and left for lunch at the usual time (13:30). After lunch, he accompanied the driver to collect water from the local well. At 16:30 he switched the generator on to charge the batteries. Monteiro had dinner at 19:00; at 21:00 he collected and stored the batteries, and switched the generator off. Monteiro went to sleep at 22:10.
23rd November
Monteiro woke up at 5:00 and collected his cloths that were hanging on the line. At 05:00 he washed and talked to the guards, about the weekend ahead of them. 05:30 they had breakfast. At 06:00 he left to the minefield at the back of the Land Rover. He was assigned to his lane at 07:00. This time he had to work with excavation method of demining. The supervisor, who was unhappy with his positioning, checked him. To explain the danger incurred by him whenever the rules were not followed. He promised to correct and continued his work. Monteiro cleared 2 m2 and investigated 5 signals (empty cans).
After lunch (14:20) he rested 1 hour and went to collect sticks for minefield marking.
16:00 he switched the generator on and did not go out that day.
Monteiro Francisco
Deminer
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