We were all shocked by the results of Hurricane Irma across the Caribbean. Matters were made worse by the arrival of Hurricane Maria. We then saw the horrific newsreels of the Rohingya Crisis on the borders of Bangladesh and Myanmar (Burma). The Club resolved that we should respond in a meaningful manner and that we should do this through ShelterBox. This charity which is well known to Club Members were quick to respond to both crises. They had teams in both the Caribbean and Bangladesh assessing local needs and arranging for aid to be distributed. For the Caribbean this included tents, ShelterKits, solar lights and water carriers. The Club purchased eight ShelterBoxes for a total of £4,720.
ShelterBox and Rotary are official project partners in international disaster relief. ShelterBox provide boxes containing the equipment to help prov
ide for the immediate needs of people affected by disasters. As well as the Caribbean they are also currently providing tents, blankets, children’s clothing, mattresses and kitchen sets for displaced families in Syria. Similar help has been sent to Niger where some sixteen thousand people are in a refugee camp having been driven from their homes by Boko Harram. Overshadowed by the Rohingya crisis there has been severe flooding in Bangladesh. ShelterBox are also proving help to the people worst affected.
Rtn Richard Horrell.