THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, July 28, 1994                TAG: 9407280519
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A5   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                     LENGTH: Short :   34 lines

GROUP NEEDS MORE VOLUNTEERS FOR 2ND MEDICAL MISSION

About 50 people have offered to join Operation Blessing's second medical mission to Zaire, but not all are qualified and the humanitarian organization still needs volunteers.

The group is trying to put together a team of 80 to 100 doctors, nurses and paramedics to treat refugees from Rwanda. Some of those who have called an Operation Blessing hot line were not qualified, did not have a passport or could not commit to a minimum of a week in Goma, Zaire, said spokesman Gene Kapp.

Operation Blessing decided to put together a second mission after the leader of a group of seven who arrived in Zaire on Sunday described the situation as a tragedy ``beyond anyone's real control.''

``People are just dying,'' Dr. Paul Williams reported to the Virginia Beach-based organization. ``Many times people are just sitting beside their dead loved ones. About twice a day, trucks come along and pick up bodies.

``There is a real need now for medical personnel. The faster we can get people into the field the more lives we can save.''

The latest mission is expected to leave sometime next week. Operation Blessing was founded by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson.

Volunteers for the medical mission are asked to call 579-3650.

KEYWORDS: RWANDA EMERGENCY RELIEF by CNB