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Angola Diary
3rd - 7th December 2001
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3rd December
Benjamim got up at 5:30, had Breakfast very quickly and left with the team to the mine field at the back of the Land Rover, team spirit was high. On the way to the field, he made jokes with his teammates about the defeat they suffered on football over the weekend.
6:30 he was briefed by the supervisor as usual. He was assigned to his lane at 7:00. The ground was good for the use of detector, but rather hard to excavate in search of signals. Today Benjamim detected 12 signals, and cleared 4 m2.
13:30, end of the operations, he went home and had a shower before having his lunch. he rested until 14:45, and left to the local market to buy cigarettes. He found acquaintances on the way with whom he discussed about his work. He his proud to be a deminer, although he misses his family.
16:00 he went back to the base, and helped his colleagues to check the generator (fuel and engine oil). At 17:00 he switched the generator on, to recharge the detector's batteries for next day's operations. 18:40 he had dinner, and listened to the music. At 22:00 he switched the generator off and went to bed.
4th December
Benjamim woke up at 5:10, and talked with his colleagues who were also preparing for the day's operations. 6:00 he had breakfast(Porridge)and left to the minefield, he complained to the supervisor during the parade. He wants his lane (from the day before) to be supplied with more water because the groung is very hard to dig into; the supervisor assigned him to another lane instead. He excavated rather than using the detector. He encountered a lot of tins.(reason of the high magnetism) Today he cleared 3 m2. At the end of the operations he went on foot, halfway towards the HALO base, because in the first trip of the Land Rover, there was not enough room for everybody. He was picked up on the way and got home for lunch; he ate spaghetti with pork meat. He had a shower, rested for a while and had a chat with his teammates until 19:00, while assisting the team with simple tasks, such as carrying water containers to the shower room. He had dinner at 19:30, and listened to the music until 22:00, and went to bed.
5th December
Benjamim wake up 5:10 feeling a bit tired, but did not hesitate to help with the loading of demining equipment. After a tea and bread breakfast, he left with the colleagues at the back of the Land Rover, to the minefield. 6:50 the briefing was interrupted by the sudden rain. While they waited for the rain to stop under the paramedic tent he was told by the supervisor that he will continue in the lane he worked the day before. The rain completely stopped at 7:20 approximately the tents are not large enough to protect everybody, and Benjamim was soaked when the rain stopped.
7:35, Bejamim continued his lane using excavation method. He investigated 11 signals to find tins and ammunition cartridges. He finished with no mine found, and 9 m2 cleared, the rain made the excavation easier for him. 13:40 the team left back to the base. Benjamim was particualrely delighted, because it was pay day, November salaries were going to be payed. 14:00 he fished his lunch (rice and black beans), he was paid his salary ($123.00), and went to the local market to by soap bars. He is unpleased that the prices have gone up. 17:00 he came back from the market with a few shoping. 18:50 he had dinner (chicken and rice) he we listened to the music until 22:00, and went to sleep.
6th December
Benjamim was in a happy mood as he woke up at 5:00. He had a shower and had eggs for breakfast. At 5:45, he left to the field. The briefing was done and he was assigned to his lane, he used the detector as the magnetism was not high. He investigated 7 signals, cleared 10 m2, but did not find any landmine. At 13:30 he left the minefield back to the HALO base. Benjamim had lunch (funge and beef), took a shower, rested for 1 hour, and went out to buy firewood with the driver. He came back to the base were he had his cloths hanging in the line. It rained from 17:00 to 17:35 approximately. 17:50 he switched the generator on to charge the detector's batteries. He played chess with the supervisor, switched the generator off at 22:15, and went to sleep.
7th December
Benjamin woke up at 5:20 to have breakfast. He helped charging the Land Rover with demining equipment. He left to the minefield straight after his porridge breakfast. He was briefed by the assistant supervisor and was assigned a lane where he could not use the detector, it really proved to be a hard task as the sun was very intense and the ground was hard, associated to the presence of the rail track. At 11:00 the supervisor swapped him with another deminer(Jose rodrigues): He was pleased with the decision. At the break 12:00 he cut himself in the left leg with a sisal tree that was on his way; nothing serious, but he was looked after by the paramedic Manuel Castelo. 13:30, he left for lunch. 13:50, he counted and cleaned the demining equipment, getting it ready for next weeks operations or an EOD call out that may occur at any given time. He was in a very good mood. He had lunch, funge and pork meat at 14:20. Very tired, he rested for two hours. He showered and dressed up at 17:00, went out to see his friends. He only came back at 22:00 to sleep.
Jorge jordao Benjamim
Deminer
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