"THE camel will be probably dead in a couple of months and all we can do for him is give him a couple of tablets for worms," Beverley Tunley said with regret.

The ancient warrior had walked 15 km to the small tent. It was in the shade of an acacia tree in the baking land of Samburu. He had brought his favourite camel, suffering from old age and internal complications, with him. It was amazing that the journey had not finished the camel off.

Captain Beverley Tunley (25) from Presteigne is one of the British soldiers who are bringing veterinary and medical aid to the inhabitants of northern Kenya. She is the only veterinary with the British soldiers on Exercise Sharp Point.

Beverley who attended the John Beddoes School before studying at Liverpool University, was commissioned in the Army last year but already she is no stranger to foreign deployments, having already served in Cyprus. But this is different.

"The team consists of Army doctors, nurses, dentists and vets and we are going almost to the Somali border, where very few white faces are seen," said Beverley. "Water will be a problem. The whole area is in drought and we will have to buy it from a camel trader.

"Getting there is half the battle. The tracks, when they exist, are dried up river beds,. There are pot-holes that can swallow a truck, not to mention the indigenous hazards like elephants and camels."

The Samburu are a noble and proud race who live a semi-nomadic life that has changed little over the centuries. There is little to no health care in the region. "Because they live in mud huts, there are particular problems with smoky interiors. This causes eye and chest infections," commented Beverley.

"Setting up a tent meant we were open for business. We were amazed that, even when we got up at 5am to begin at 7am, there was always a queue outside."

Back at the base Captain Jan Fuller was sanguine about their role. "Whatever we do is a drop in the ocean, but the experience is invaluable. The next time an Angola or Kosovo happens we will be ready. It's exercises like this that prepare us."

Beverley's parents, who live in Presteigne, are proud of their daughter's achievements and can't wait to see her again when she returns in May.