An unstable dangerous situation

Jan Pryor, Yvonne Lamont and daughter Summer Lamont slept on the ground for four nights: Home for four nights.

Jan Pryor is the founder of The Didi Foundation Inc. (Rotary Australia World Community Service project 60 2012-13), a high school teacher on the Central Coast and a member of the Rotary Club of Northlakes Toukley, NSW. She also founded a Non-Government charitable Organisation (NGO), Didi Foundation Nepal, which focuses on developing sustainable futures for women and children in Nepal. This is Jan’s survival story … 

On April 25, 2015 two Didi Nepal volunteers Yvonne Lamont, founder of WOW Girls (Waves of Wisdom), her daughter Summer Lamont and myself commenced an eight day road tour from Kathmandu to Tibet. On this glorious day and ten minutes after crossing the border into Tibet, our life changed from a sense of adventure to that of fear, isolation and imminent danger in the Nepal earthquake. 

Out of the blue, a landslide hit our tour vehicle. Bewildered and shocked, we became surrounded by plummeting rocks as the hill was violently shaking and there was an incredibly loud foreign noise that added to our heightened sensory overload. Cars and trucks were bouncing on the road and we witnessed our first landslide which was tumultuously pelting down the opposite valley. Sadly this landslide demolished the quaint little town of Kodari where we had a cup of tea half an hour earlier.

For hours we waited anxiously through violent tremors, landslides and the road cracking around us. Fear generated us to be instant strategic planners of survival tactics, but in amongst all of this fear came an incessant Aussie sense of humour. Laughing became our saving grace over the next five days.

The first frightening night was spent at the Chinese army base where the next morning we were given five minutes to pack our small bag of essentials and trek through the completely annihilated town of lower Zhangmu.

We spent the next four nights in an unstable and dangerous Chinese evacuation camp. We slept on the ground under a plastic make shift tent, lined up for rice, had no drinking water and stayed in the same clothes and boots for five days. Sanitation was a very big issue until someone built a toilet. Our world became full of anxiousness as we graciously accepted that fact that we were going to die - we just did not want it to hurt. After being listed as missing by our families for five days, we were gratefully evacuated to Llhasa on April 30.

The Didi Foundation runs various programs to ensure that disadvantaged women, especially those from the lower cast, have opportunities to be educated and learn life skills. We currently run a sewing school, computer training and a women’s co-operative to manufacture various products to sell. In conjunction with the Nepalese Government, we are also running a traditional weaving course and an education course to prepare women to apply for government positions. We have also joined with the Nepalese Health Department to run workshops and health clinics specialising in women’s reproductive education. 

Post-Earthquake:

 

Didi Foundation carried out immediate relief aid to devastated villages, including teams of medical personal, food, tents and then iron. I returned to Nepal on June 23 to commence the rebuild Nepal program and finish the women’s centre in Kathmandu. 

Through the support of the Rotary Club of Woy Woy, NSW we are delivering much needed medical equipment to regional hospitals and assisting in supplying materials for the building of temporary schools. 

The Didi Foundation Inc. believes ‘one person can make a difference’ and we are “creating a future and changing a destiny.’ The Didi Foundation is currently fundraising to support Nepal in its rebuilding phase. Tax deductible donations can be made via https://donations.rawcs.com.au/Default.aspx?ProjectID=682&ReturnTo=4.

Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/didifoundation.

Jan Pryor is available as a guest speaker. All inquiries to janpryor08@gmail.com.

Trillium to the rescue

(L-R) Rotary Club of Whangaparaoa president Brian Mullan, Sherry Day, past president Sarah Carr and students of Wentworth College, with Dennis Day (at the rear by the mast) aboard Trillium.

After departing Chesapeake Bay, USA and cruising half-way around the world as part of a World ARC sailing rally, Dennis and Sherry Day called into Vanuatu late last year on their 14.8 metre Hallberg-Rassy yacht S/V Trillium. They then sailed to Auckland, NZ and, after a two-month holiday away from sailing, they returned to their yacht.

...Then came the numbing news of death and destruction by Cyclone Pam on Friday March 13 in Vanuatu.

Dennis and Sherry talked with friends in San Diego, USA about how affected they were by the tragedy in Vanuatu and how they wanted to do something to help. Fortunately, one of their friends is a Rotarian, of the Old Mission Rotary Club in San Diego, and he suggested that Dennis and Sherry get in touch with Rotary in Auckland.

Enter the Rotary Club of Whangaparaoa, NZ which provided an immediate and positive response to Dennis and Sherry. Sherry compiled a list of essential clothing, cooking and other survival items that she knew from experience would be needed in Vanuatu. President of Rotary Whangaparaoa Brian Mullan and past-president Sarah Carr immediately set up two separate Facebook appeals and two separate collection points at their respective homes.

Sherry and Dennis were welcomed as special guests to the March 26 Rotary Whangaparaoa meeting, when they again told their story and unfolded their plans to a rapt audience, after which they were presented with a certificate of appreciation by Brian.

Dennis and Sherry also appealed to Wentworth College at Gulf Harbour and had made a presentation to them on the much needed items. The students and staff of the college rose to the challenge too, by initiating a similar collection.

The collections by Rotary Whangaparaoa and Wentworth College were taken by Dennis and Sherry Day, in their yacht Trillium and on a second yacht, owned by friends. They departed Auckland after Easter and meet with 4-6 other yachts at Opua in the Bay of Islands before all headed up to Vanuatu, and distributed the essential relief items in the more remote outer islands.

This is a great example of Rotary providing the practical and effective international links between non-Rotarians with resources and Rotarians with the network and ability to coordinate delivery of much needed relief.

There is a great blog for Trillium at http://sv-trillium.blogspot.co..nz and regular updates will be posted by Sherry Day.

Vanuatu update: Rotary’s allocated islands are Epi Island and the Shepherd Group of five small islands where Rotary will focus on rebuilding hospital aid post buildings and water collection off the roof. If you can assist Vanuatu following Cyclone Pam, please email the District 9910 Chair of Vanuatu Projects PDG Lindsay Ford ford.rotary@optusnet.com.au.

An update about Rotary New Zealand response to Cyclone Pam - Vanuatu. Your help is still needed.

ROTARY CYCLONE PAM – VANUATU – URGENT APPEAL FOR DONATIONS OF CASH – Bulletin 3

We now have 1000 ERKs either in Vanuatu or en route.

600 left on HMNZS Canterbury last Sunday – two and half 20 foot container loads. Prime TV News covered Sunday night.

Huge thanks to MFAT, RNZDF (Navy), Jenners Worldwide Freight Ltd for making this possible.

The value of the consignments is approx $600k so we desperately need that equivalent to replace the stock.

The Public Response to our Appeal which has appeared on a number of websites has been well received and we are grateful for donations large and small.

We have received many calls and emails from people representing Ni Vanuatu people in New Zealand and New Zealand residents from other Pacific countries with requests to assist them to send containers of donations in kind and other goods. Each is being considered, but not encouraged.

The reasons are many, essentially to protect the Vanuatu economy and not impair the livelihood of the established business community. A lot of DIK sent by well wishers is often inappropriate.

A priority for funding is re-establishment of safer drinking water. 75 communities are being considered to provide potable water and reduce the sanitation and health consequences which arise from water sources damaged by the cyclone.  Following on from a successful project in Samoa as a result of the last Cyclone devastating that country, water harvesting roofs and tanks maybe installed in  schools in strategic locations which community members can access which will prevent the closure of schools due to sanitation and health concerns. 

Reestablishments of home vegetable gardens also an urgent need which is being considered a priority.

New Zealand Rotary Volunteer Peter Wilson has arrived in Vanuatu to undertake needs assessments having determined a number of islands as those we should support given that Rotary has provided infrastructure to their communities in the past and know the islands well. Rotarians in Vanuatu have suffered loss to homes and businesses and need support whilst they tend to their own personal issues. Trauma is an issue often forgotten at these times.

Vanuatu is made up of 83 islands over a vast area of ocean and limited access mostly by sea. From the most southern to the most northern the distance is approx 1000 kilometres in a straight line.

Given it is only 10 days since Cyclone Pam hit, we believe we are well on track to make a real difference over the coming days, weeks, months and possibly years.

 DONATIONS TO OUR APPEAL ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE

 Four Donation options are:

 

At any Westpac Branch or by Internet Banking

Quoting   03 1702 0192208 01             Ref.  888 or for ERKs specifically 308

 

Paypal  at   –     www.rnzwcs.org

 

Give a Little at -   https://givealittle.co.nz/org/rnzwcs/share

 

Cheque to

 

RNZWCS Limited (Rotary New Zealand)

PO Box 20309

Christchurch 8543

New Zealand

 

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.

Rotary - Solomon Islands Flood Appeal

NOTE:  This blog post will be updated with news as this comes to hand. 

Rotary New Zealand World Community Service is appealing jointly with Rotary Australia WCS for donations to assist with Emergency Response, and the rehabilitation and reconstruction for the thousands displaced in the devastating floods that swept across the Solomon Islands on 3 April 2014.

Donations may be made by cheque to:

RNZWCS Limited – Solomon’s Appeal

PO Box 20309

Christchurch 8543

or at any Westpac Branch

03 1702 0192208 01

or through other options posted on our website www.rnzwcs.org

Donations are tax deductible

Update as at 9 April 2014
from Stuart Batty

This disaster is looking like the biggest in the region since the Tsunami that struck Samoa in 2009.

Last night had long conversations with PDG Wayne Morris who is based in Honiara.

In short, there is also a desperate need for basics such as kitchen utensils.

There are none available in any of the stores there and people whilst they can cook on open fires have nothing to cook in. In fact there is little basic stock of anything available and if there were the people most affected have no money to purchase.

12,000 people in evacuation centres have nothing to return HOME to.

Chaos abounds in the sector with some agencies trying to shut others out. No coordination, no management. Just self interest.

I have been in touch with Rotary Australia World Community Service Limited overnight who have substantial DIK in most states and they will dispatch kitchen utensils etc. with urgency.

Have also been in touch with Rotary Australia’s AquaBox, their name for our Emergency Response Kit and we will coordinate with them.

We may also send ERKs from our pre positioned stock in Fiji.

Please continue to impress on your clubs that they should support Rotary in disasters such as this.

Updated Situation as 6 April 2014

There are a total of 19 confirmed deaths and an estimated 52,000 people affected across the Solomon Islands (population 515,870), around half of which are children.

In Honiara (pop. 64,609), there are 17 fatalities, 30 people missing and 12,000 affected. A multi-agency team continues to register people in 13 evacuation centres. The most populated shelters are in east Honiara, with over 3,500 people at Panatina Pavilion and around 1,000 at both the airport terminal and King George VI School. Initial food and water distributions have occurred, although there is urgent need for additional food, water, clothing, blankets, mosquito nets and cooking utensils.

In other areas of Guadalcanal (pop. 93,613), there are two confirmed fatalities and an estimated 40,000 people affected. River systems across the northwest, central and north of the island have flooded, destroying homes, damaging bridges and displacing families. There are also reports of landslides and loss of food gardens.

Other provinces are starting to report impacts, but there is still limited communication to many areas. In Makira-Ulawa (pop. 40,419), an aerial survey was conducted, with the Waihauru Bridge cut-off and reports of damage from a 6.0 magnitude earthquake two days ago. In Malaita (pop. 137,596), floods have destroyed houses and blocked roads. In Isabel (pop. 26,158), a landslide and flooding in Buala has resulted in two deaths, although it is unclear if these fatalities are included in total statistics.

Honiara International Airport has reopened to limited commercial flights as navigation lights are damaged and the domestic terminal is flooded.

The National Referral Hospital is open and accepting new patients. There are concerns flooded areas and contaminated water supplies will lead to increased risks of infection and outbreaks of water-borne and vector-borne diseases.

PDG Stuart J Batty QSM,JP

Director

RNZWCS Limited (Rotary New Zealand)

PO Box 20309

Christchurch 8543

New Zealand

Ph/Fax 64 3 3599218

cellphone 027 2695615

stuart.batty@rnzwcs.org

www.rnzwcs.org

Letter of Appreciation for Emergency Response Kits sent to Vanuatu

Letter as sent to Stuart Batty, Director, RNZWCS Ltd (Rotary New Zealand):

G'day Stuart

The Director of NDMO, Shadrack Welegtabit,has asked that we send a note of
appreciation for the Emergency Response Kits provided by Rotary New Zealand.
I understand a mention should go to the Rotary Club of Otahuhu who packed
the kits and of course your Rotary colleagues in Port Vila and Luganville.

I have just returned from Santo, so saw first hand the quality and variety
of your relief items. In addition, the excellent plastic boxes that
protecting the materiel during transportation will also have a very useful
secondary life with the communities you are assisting in Santo.

The assessment mission identified, in the remote and isolated West Coast
2 communities, 16 families in Patmel and Wunavai and boarding school at
Selusia, for immediate assistance.
The school with nearly 100 pupils and teachers lost roofing and the
important school gardens were badly damaged.
The Rotary assistance, with other urgent supplies are being delivered to
these locations.
As they are remote,in fact several boat days away and expensive to reach,
our teams are using a Police launch.

It was mentioned when the Emergency Response Kits were handed over that
Rotary was thinking of pre-positioning in Vanuatu additional kits. This is
something very useful and would be warmly welcomed, if you inform NDMO, we
would again facilitate customs and duty exemptions. We would also added the
details to our in country emergency stock database.

The Rotary assistance was very welcome and much appreciated by Vanuatu.

On behalf of Director Shadrack and the NDMO team

Many thanks

Terry

Terry Lewis
Emergency Logistics Coordinator
National Disaster Management Office
Vanuatu

More information:  www.rnzwcs.org

Solomons Disaster

Rotary in the Solomon Islands have requested help from New Zealand Rotarians
as they respond to the devastating floods of the past 24 hours.

Emergency non food items are desperately needed including shelter (tents)
and other basics for the many thousands who have lost everything after their
homes were swept away.

Rotary New Zealand have tents and emergency response kits on standy by and
have been advised by Rotary in the capital Honiara that a call from the
Solomon Island's National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) is likely to
made following a state of emergency being called.

"Rotary is most often one of the first cabs off the rank in emergencies like
this" spokesperson Stuart Batty said. Working with local NDMO, they are able
to arrange through their own volunteers and supporters network an immediate
response. Rotary New Zealand through their website appeal for cash donations
to support the victims of this disaster.

About Rotary New Zealand
Rotary New Zealand (RNZWCS Limited) was registered on 11 December 2003 as a
limited liability company to foster confidence with all stakeholders by
governing its relationships and giving a clearer picture of its professional
approach. With the establishment of a formal Non Governmental Organisation
entity, it was granted full membership by the Council for International
Development in 2004 and is a member of the NGO Disaster Relief Forum. It has
Inland Revenue Charitable Status including Donee Status under Schedule 32 of
the Income Tax Act.

More information:  www.rnzwcs.org

Gold coin + a new underpass = support for the Philippines

On Sunday 24 November the Rotary Club of Karori collected over $3,558 in gold coin donations towards the relief effort for Typhon Haiyan in the Philippines.  Thousands of Wellingtonians had came on a bright sunny day to view the construction of a motorway underpass in central Wellington near the Cenotaph and under Memorial Park.

The "Thank You Rotary" stickers were popular!

Rotary New Zealand response to the Typhoon Haiyan Emergency

Rotary New Zealand has been quick to respond to the Philippines Typhoon Haiyan Emergency

250 ERKs have been offered if RNZWCS gets a request from District 3860 either direct or via Australia.

They have been in touch with Aqua Box (Australian equivalent of ERKs) and they like Disaster Aid Australia are also in contact and will respond to a request.
RNZWCS an agreement with Aqua Box that they will back them up and vice versa if we exhaust supplies when cyclones hit our Pacific neighbours.

RNZWCS is running an appeal through the website www.rnzwcs.org.nz  (not for ERK’s but for immediate response – see below) and NZ DG’s have been asked to pass down to clubs to support. Funds collected will be directed to the 3860 region. On this occasion it is funds for the general appeal that will be most use and not ERK’s which can be sent from existing stock if they are called on. An email put out by DG 3860 clearly says the need is for cash from Rotarians.

RNZWCS has responded through MFAT for a specific request - The request came on Wednesday for tents and due to a very generous donation from an Auckland Supplier, we had 6 pallet loads of gear (three roomed tents valued at $110,000) on Thursday’s Royal New Zealand Air Force flight in Rotary’s name.

The funds raised from the RNZWCS appeal will be used for First Phase emergency response, distributing food, water, clothing, blankets and medicines. The Second Phase will move to include low budget temporary shelters made of locally sourced materials. Third phase will be to build more permanent housing structures, repair school infrastructure e.g. classrooms, provide school supplies and improve livelihoods.

Click Here  to watch as Rotary District Governor John Rickard and ShelterBox Response Team member Arnold Kelly talk about the Typhoon Haiyan Emergency Appeal on “Canterbury Life” by Canterbury Television

ShelterBox Typhoon Haiyan Emergency Appeal

Waiuku College Support of Survival Kits Will Prove a Lifesaver When Needed

Waiuku Rotary and Waiuku College worked hand in hand to assist in the packing of Emergency Response Kits.

On Tuesday 14th May 10 Year 12 Waiuku College students travelled to Penrose with their Dean Mrs Patricia Whitehead to a warehouse in Penrose to pack Emergency Response Survival containers to be used in cases of disaster in the Pacific Islands. The aim of these kits is to provide items to be used on site after a disaster hits the country. Hundreds of these kits are dispatched each year to countries in the South Pacific islands by Rotary.

Bradley Hagan, Zoe Mackenzie, Leetisha Atfield, Nicolleta Braun, Joanna Moeller, Chealsea Marshall, Julian De Villiers Jody Porter, Jody Gibson and Gemma Flood happily completed the final batch of containers giving a total of 420 which will be transported when Rotary can secure a container for transport to the Islands.

Many College students have benefited through Rotary funding over the past years participating in leadership or subject related training including Zoe and Jody who organised this group  to pack items including shovels, fishing tackle, torches, machetes, gum boots, birthing packs and clothing.

Waiuku College students would like to thank Rotary for their continued support of students and are keen to continue to contribute in any way to their local or the wider community. 

Disaster Strikes Samoa and Rotary Responds

After a natural disaster, citizens and friends far and wide have a natural feeling of urgency to help those affected. Our cyclone battered country was no exception.  However, many are stuck to know exactly ‘how’ to help.  Do you send money? Clothes? Food? If so then, who do we send it to and how can you be sure it gets to those who are in need?  Taking a step back, how do communities and families prepare to help themselves after unprecedented flooding and gale winds?  History will have us anticipate a cyclone every so often as a pacific island prone to such events.  Logically, locals should be able to know on the top of their head what to do and what is needed during and after the cyclone. 

For Rotary Club of Apia, one of Samoa’s small but more active charitable clubs, the rally of Rotary Emergency Recover Kits or ERK’s as it is called by members, arrived as soon as the flights were allowed back into Faleolo Airport.  Over 200 ERK’s from Rotary NZ have been distributed to the devastated areas of Upolu affected by the worse flooding ever recorded in Samoa’s history.  The first shipment of 100 ERKs were delivered on the 22nd December 2012 by volunteers to Ma’agao, Lelata, Fa’atoia all the way through to Aai o Niue, Levili and Mo’ataa.  This was the area where some fourteen lives were taken and over 100 homes were destroyed.  The second shipment of another 100 ERK’s were delivered to the southern rural region of Upolu to Siumu, Maninoa, Mulivai and all along the coast.

What many wanted to know was the ERKs contained. Each box had supplies for ten people and was well suited to meet the needs of the average Samoan family.  Open one up and you would find some amazing things that even the most prepared could not have thought of. Filled to the brim with: a first aid kit, machete to remove fallen branches and trees; gumboots to walk through waist deep mud from flood remnants; large tarpaulin and rope; cutlery set of ten cups, plates, pots and pans; a birthing kit with disinfectant, birthing scissors, gloves, stitching needles and bandages; waterproof matches and candles; flash light and batteries; clothing; bathroom kit with soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste; panadols; buckets to carry water; and addition to this, the box itself was built to store about a gallon of water once the supplies were empty – Rotarians educated each family of the use of water purifier tablets to be dropped into the box making it safe to drink should they suspect the water contained was unsafe.  There were fifty purifier tablets in each box.

While handing the boxes to a family of seventeen who had lost everything including their home, the father was amazed that all the supplies were brand new.  He was humbled at the donation and was upset that he didn’t have any food to offer as was expected in Samoan hospitality.  The resilience and strong spirit of the locals came through as they smiled amidst their loss and greeted us with good humour cheerfully accepting our donations and sending us off with blessings. 

“Samoans are unbreakable, not a single person was wallowing in self-pity or waiting for help – they just go on with it and started cleaning up and clearing trees and logs out to rebuild.  They’re so resourceful and everyone came together to help each other get back on their feet”, reported one Rotarian.  The devastation caused was heartbreaking.  Behind the Apia Park stadium we saw a group of about twelve people including young ones of around nine to ten years old all lined up behind an enormous tree log trying to push and roll it onto smaller logs off of their tunoa (traditional cooking fale) so they can rebuild it.  Households with babies were thankful for the purifying tablets to allow them to prepare baby bottles and drink safe water.  Others gleamed as they put on their boots to protect their feet from the mud and debris allowing them to finally walk through their yard without getting cut up.

Rotary Club of Apia has come a long way in terms of experience and skill in dealing with disasters.  The 2009 tsunami saw it mobilizing hundreds of Shelter Boxes to the southern coast only two days after it hit.  At that same time Rotary immediately instigated its medical outreach programme (Rotary 5000) in partnership with the Oceania University of Medicine to provide medical care to victims.  “When our country is in need, we’ll be there and help wherever and however we can.  This is what Rotary is about – our members are loyal and motivated because we provide them the opportunity to help; to give back.  There are only a few of us and we have a workload of a hundred people but we strive to get things done despite our limitations.  We don’t let obstacles get in our way and the support from our people has always been the reward”, said President Toleafoa Douglas Creevey.  

President Toleafoa says there is and always has been enormous support from partner clubs of Rotary International for decades.  Samoa is the darling of the Pacific and for Rotary there is no exception – they love Samoa and want to help.  Dozens of clubs from New Zealand, Australia, American Samoa, Fiji and others all rushed in to send us aid and assistance.  We were privileged to have been sent the 200 ERKs from Rotary NZ.  Almost 2,000 people are now better off than they were when Cyclone Evan hit.

Rotary Club of Apia was established in 1971 and remains one of Samoa’s more active and longest serving charitable service clubs. It is recognized by DMO and the government of Samoa as one of their NGO partners in times of disaster.  More information can be obtained on www.apiarotary.ws.

Submitted by: Phaedra Moors

Related Links:

www.rnzwcs.org

ShelterBox responds to Solomon’s tsunami

A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) from New Zealand is being deployed to the Solomon Islands in response to the  undersea earthquake and subsequent 1.5 metres (5ft) high tsunami that hit Temotu Province in the Solomon Islands on the 6th February 2013.

ShelterBox Response Team members Lyndon Tamblyn (Bulls) and Owen Smith (Kerikeri) both experienced response team leaders will leave as soon as flights become available. The ShelterBox SRT will work alongside staff from World Vision, our partner in the Solomon Islands who are currently assessing the damage and the need for shelter. Pre-positioned stocks of tents and ShelterBoxes have been made available for the disaster hit families.

A New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757 is scheduled to leave this morning [11 February] for the Pacific. It will be carrying relief supplies into Honiara, donated to World Vision by The Warehouse and ShelterBox. Stocks include shelter, sanitation kits, tarpaulins, water containers, and chainsaw packs from the New Zealand Government.

According to George Herming, a spokesman for the prime minister, some 100 homes and properties had been either damaged or destroyed. Sipuru Rove, a spokesperson from the National Disaster Management Office in Honiara, said the relief effort was being hindered by debris at Lata airport. Planes are not yet able to bring relief supplies to the Islands because of damage to an airport that had been inundated by tsunami surges.

Solomon Islands Police Commissioner John Lansley said that his officers in Lata were helping to assess the damage and prepare for evacuation in the nearby villages. "Sadly, we believe some people have lost their lives," he said. "Latest reports have indicated that the death toll has risen to thirteen, but there may of course be more."

More than 50 people were killed and thousands lost their homes in April 2007 when a magnitude-8.1 quake hit the western Solomon Islands, sending waves crashing into coastal villages. The Solomon’s comprise more than 200 islands with a population of about 552,000 people. The islands lie on the "Ring of Fire" – an arc that stretches around the Pacific rim and where about 90% of the world's quakes occur.

Link: www.shelterbox.org.nz 

Emergency Response Kits

 

The supply of Emergency Response Kits in the Pacific has been depleted due to recent emergencies (cyclones) and more stocks are being assembled.  If you are interested in supporting this essential project go to www.rnzwcs.org

ShelterBox NZ team members respond to Cyclone Evan in Samoa

A New Zealand ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) consisting of Bulls-based Lyndon Tamblyn and Walter van der Kley from Ashburton, who are both experienced SRTs, went to Apia on December 16 to assess the need of people affected by recent Cyclone Evan which ripped through Samoa.

Winds of up to 165 kilometres per hour lashed down, and waves of water exploded over river banks washing homes away, flinging cars into trees, cutting out power across the country and leaving the capital city Apia in ruins. The scene of destruction also included flattened homes, uprooted trees and flooded streets.


Once on the ground in Apia, the pair assessed the needs of cyclone victims and established how many people had lost their homes. Local Rotarians helped the team with information and transport.

ShelterBoxes are prepositioned in Auckland and ready for a rapid response to Pacific Island nations. Additional ShelterBoxes are located in Melbourne, with some already in Fiji, left over from flood relief earlier in 2012.

ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity that delivers emergency shelter, warmth and dignity to people affected by disaster worldwide. Since 2000 over 124,323 ShelterBoxes have been deployed worldwide.

NZ SRT, Owen Smith recently towed a ShelterBox in the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge to raise money for at least six ShelterBoxes.

Each ShelterBox costs NZ$1,500 and will support an extended family for up to six months.
Donations can be made through the Telecom Foundation “Givealittle” website where 100% of every donation is given to the charity.

DONATION HOTLINE:  

www.givealittle.co.nz/org/shelterbox

Cyclone devastates Samoa - a way to help

Emergency Response Kits prepositioned in Apia are being distributed to those most affected and back up supplies are being shipped from Fiji.

Cyclone Evan will hit Tonga and Fiji in the coming days and reportedly is intensifying.

We have prepositioned ERKs in Fiji and Rotarians and their supporters are on standby.

Rotary is working with Disaster Management Agencies in all three countries and we anticipate that as well as ERKs, food, water and clothing will be needed.

RNZWCS will advance funds to enable these supplies to be purchased and distributed immediately.

We are therefore asking clubs to support us and have launched an immediate appeal. We are also working with the New Zealand Government through MFAT and the NGO Disaster Relief Forum NDRF.

Please refer to our website http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rnzwcs.org&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFRwCsED7etkgqCTvARaIo51iAcrw for alternate ways to donate or

send cheques to PO Box 20309, Christchurch 8543 or through internet banking 03 1702 0192208 01

We appreciate many clubs will have suspended meetings for the Christmas/New Year break, but feel confident they will be checking emails.

Best wishes
Stuart


PDG Stuart J Batty JP
Director
RNZWCS Limited (Rotary New Zealand)
PO Box 20309
Christchurch 8543
New Zealand
Ph/Fax 64 3 3599218
cellphone 027 2695615
Charities Commission Reg. No. CC26860         

Flood Relief Response at Narata in Fiji

Narata Village community in the Province of Nadroga experienced the devastating and unprecedented floods that spread across much of Viti Levu (the main island in Fiji) the week before Easter 2012. Much of the village was under 1.5 metres of flowing water. The resultant all covering layer of sticky, slippery, smelly mud was everywhere, so the villagers cleaned up and waited for food support. They were very happy to see Rotarians from all four Suva clubs arrive in a fleet of 4WD vehicles bearing Rotary Emergency Response Kits and food ration packs.

Warwick and Cate Pleass with village children.  Note the use of the 'Peace" (finger) sign

In addition, the village water supply pipe running two kms into the hills to the source was cut by landslides, and over 50 metres of pipes lost. Of course, cleaning out the stinking mud from homes and belongings is impossible without water, so they were desperate for help. On hearing of their plight, the Rotarians present arranged with a local company to sponsor the cost of the materials needed. The village provided the labour to replace those pipes. Within a couple of weeks the work was completed, which enabled the villagers to resume their normal lives, with their income mostly from growing tropical vegetables.

The Rotarian response team included from the Rotary Clubs of:

· Suva North then President Lewis Sahai, and then President Elect Griffon Emose

· Suva Assistant Governor Malini Raghwan, and then President Kalpesh Solanki,

· Suva Peninsula Sunset then District Peace Chair Elect Rita Taphorn, and Past President Joshila Lal

· Suva East PDG Warwick Pleass and Rotarian Reanu Ramani

- By PDG Warwick Pleass

Fiji Floods - Press Release 10 April 2012

PRESS RELEASE – 10 APRIL 2012

400 Emergency Response kits recently packed in Christchurch and Auckland, pre positioned in Fiji have provided immediate relief to thousands of people living on the Western side of the main island of Viti Levu in Fiji following the disastrous floods. In the past week some 450 kits affectionately known as ERKs have been distributed to the neediest by Rotary volunteers and their supporters. The relief effort in Fiji is being coordinated by their Civil Defence authority (DISMAC).

ERKs being packed

In addition to the ERK’s, buoyed on by a substantial grant from Rotarians and the public of New Zealand, over 900 food parcels have also been distributed to evacuation centres and to people who remained near to or in the flood sodden dwelling place. The work is to continue throughout this week until Rotary is satisfied that the immediate response effort is complete. It is then Rotary Fiji will divert its attention to the second response phase supporting the fragile education and health sector. Many schools have lost buildings, the infrastructure is being sorely tested and Rotary will work with schools to respond the their greatest need, most likely replacing their sodden text and library books, furniture and other equipment essential for getting schools back to their regular routine. Village health centres also need help to replace supplies.

Where possible,  Rotary will support the local business community by purchasing goods locally as they have done with their food parcels which are sufficient to feed a family of 4 for one week. Rotary New Zealand’s spokesperson Stuart Batty acknowledges the immediate response from Government through Minister McCully’s quick response to provide financial support to it and other New Zealand NGO’s responding to the Fiji situation.

Rotary New Zealand’s appeal details assisted by Westpac Bank and PayPal can be found on www.rnzwcs.org or donations can be sent to PO Box 20309, Christchurch 8043.

Emergency Response Kits being delivered during the Fiji Floods

Click here for information about ERK's  and how to donate to help replensih the stiocks used so there are enough on hand for the next disaster.

5 April NEWS:

Pre positioning ERK’s in Fiji has enabled us to continue to provide rapid response.

MFAT have agreed to fund the replacement of 200 ERK’s’

We will be restocking in coming weeks and appeal to clubs [and other supporters] to send donations for ERK’s as well as food packs. Details on our website. www.rnzwcs.org

Fiji Floods - news on 3 April

Update:  Western Division 12.30pm Tuesday 3 April 2012

Rotary has been distributing food to specific centres and areas having been directed by DISMAC to do so.

In the main the distribution until today has been food.

The food packs support a family of 4 for up to one week.

Emergency Response Kits (ERK’s) distribution has now commenced in earnest to those areas not previously accessible by road.

Distribution is being managed using the template established in January.

Distribution to evacuation centres as follows:

Food packs to following schools 530 in total (larger families given more than one pack)

Nadi

Andrews Primary School                                                158 families

Nadi Muslim                                                                    60 families

PWD depot Navakai                                                        12 families

Lautoka

Lovu Sangam School                                                    28 families
Vitogo District School                                                   18 families
Vitogo Hall                                                                    12 families
Vitogo village Centre #2                                                    6 families
Drasa Muslim Primary                                                     20 families
Drasa Primary School                                                       3 families
Private house behind Drasa Primary School                      3 families
Lautoka Primary School                                                  22 families

ERKs distribution commenced today

Sigatoka – (today 03/04)

Semo Village                                                    50 ERKs

                                                                        20 food packs

Emuri village –                                                  10 ERKs

Indications are that over next few days our ERKs stocks may be exhausted.

Prior to :   788 in Lautoka, 141 Suva

260 ERK’s have been signed out from  Lautoka. today

In addition clothing has been called for and 22 large cartons held in Lautoka have been distributed.

Rotary New Zealand is funding food parcels.

Rotary New Zealand will replenish ERK’s stock.

Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Lautoka distributing food parcels.  $40  feeds a family of 4 for one week.