Sunday 22 March 2015

Rotary in Nadi provide support for Vanuatu

The following is an article courtesy of the Fiji Sun followed by further actions by Nadi Rotary to aid for the Cyclone Pam disaster in Vanuatu:


The Rotary and Rotaract clubs of Nadi held an aid campaign for cyclone victims in Vanuatu yesterday.

The joint initiative was coined by the Nadi branches.

Present at the drive was Member of Parliament and Rotary International member Sanjit Patel.

“This is the first relief that we want to send quickly and there will be people joining hands in providing assistance to our friends in Vanuatu and obviously Government will help,” he said.

Both clubs will be working with sister associations in Australia and New Zealand who are stationed in Vanuatu today to aid the distribution.

He said the response from the public has been outstanding.

“So far we have had people from Sabeto and even Kerebula bringing in bags of clothes and some have volunteered to get food. I’m proud of the people in Nadi who have been genuinely giving whatever they can,” he said.

The Rotary International club in Nadi plans to discuss logistics with the Fijian Government and try to provide food rations as well.

“We can show our compassion for our neighbours when they need us the most and showing them that Fiji is with Vanuatu all the way,” Mr Patel said.

Meanwhile, Rotary Club of Nadi president Krupesh Patel said the public donated basic necessities.

“Since we cannot be there with them psychically as Rotarians we thought people would really need these basic things,” said Mr Patel.

The collection from the drive included house hold items like kitchen utensils, curtains, linen beddings, shoes and toys.

The team in Port Vila will be assessing areas which are accessible for distribution.

Source Fiji Sun – 22/03/2015

In addition, Nadi Rotary report:

1.       We have collected just over ½ a 20ft Container load of items.

2.       This project / appeal to the public was done for 1 week where we printed posters, flyers and advertisements on Radio and TV as well.

3.       We had 2 locations points where all collection was done and 1 area where Nadi Rotaractors were doing all the sorting of the items.

 

Currently we are talking to few freight companies who can quickly get this shipment across to Rotary Club of Port Vila.