RIBI International Resource Group
Newsletter August 2010
Since the July newsletter the phone lines and emails have been extremely busy
responding to the most recent disaster in Pakistan.
Pakistan Floods
The worst floods for 80 years have devastated large areas of Pakistan killing 2000
and affecting 20 million people who have had to flee their homes. The news from the
Districts is that Rotarians have responded quickly to the request for clean water and
shelter by supporting the box projects.
Lifestraws, www.lifestraw.org.uk, initially sent 3000 straws via Lifebox and
since then have sent their total stock of 11,000 which equates to 7,000,000
litre of drinking water. The straws are ideally suited to this crisis as it allows
the user to take surface water, pass it through the filter and drink it.
Water Survival Box, www.worldwaterworks.org, have been working tirelessly
with their partners Humanity First UK to get much needed supplies to where
it’s needed most. So far 400 Water Survival Boxes have been despatched.
The following e-mail was received from Humanity First UK:
Once again, WorldWaterWorks Limited has come up trumps with its Rotary Water
Survival Boxes. The devastating floods in Pakistan have left millions displaced and
destitute. Your boxes are helping them to cope in difficult conditions in places such
as Muzaffargarh, Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar and Dera Ghazi Khan. The speed of your
response has allowed us to get these boxes to the needy within days of the disaster. I
look forward to continuing to work with your magnificent team.” Fazal Ahmad, Global
Marketing Director
ShelterBox, www.shelterbox.org, have responded magnificently as always.
They sent 1000 tents which will house up to 10,000 people who have lost their
homes. This is in addition to the emergency goods which are contained in the
Shelterbox which is almost always first to disaster areas.
Lifebox, www.life-box.org.uk, have been transporting Life Straws.
Aquabox, www.aquabox.org, has agreed to send £30,000 of Aquaboxes and
Aquafilter and they continue to need our support. They have asked that any
boxes which are with clubs or schools should be returned as soon as possible
to help the effort.
Impact Foundation, www.impact.org.uk, which Rotary has supported in India,
has a man, on the ground, who has set up a camp for 2500 people supplying
tents. He speaks the language and is aware of the local culture which is
beneficial in this situation. The tents which cost of £65 are all made locally so
this also helps the local economy.
Donations to these charities should be sent to them direct and not to RIBI.
President Jim Moulson has launched a Pakistan Flood Appeal, which will be
administered by the RIBI Donations Trust, to support long term sustainable projects
which will be required to help rebuild devastated communities. All donations to
this appeal should be made payable to the RIBI Donations Trust and sent c/o RIBI,
Kinwarton Road, Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 6PB
Haiti
Jaipur Limb Project – since the earthquake it has become obvious that there
is a great need for prosthetic limbs for those who were disabled. The charity
are proposing initially to finance the building of a workshop and consulting
area at the Bienfaisance Hospital in Pignon. Funding will also be required
for the training of orthopaedic technicians to a professional standard as at
present there are none in Haiti. An off road 4×4 vehicle will also be required
to access the more remote areas. Funds will be made available from RIBI
Haiti Earthquake Appeal to help with this long term sustainable project.
District 1160 have begun to collect unwanted/surplus crutches – perhaps you
can help.
Mary’s Meals – A number of Districts have been supporting this charity which
supplies meals for school children in many counties in the world. They have
been working in Haiti since 2006 in the Cite Soleil, a slum area, in Port au
Prince. Since the earthquake they have delivered medical supplies, helped 500
to relocate to their home towns, supplied 2000 families with food, clothing
and hygiene kits. They have also erected temporary shelters in schools to
restart classes and of course supplied meals. The charity founder Magnus
MacFarlane – Barrow on a recent visit to the USA, to set up an American
organisation, was interview on the CNN Heroes Show. www.marysmeals.org
Guatemala – Trade Aid, www.trade-aid.org, sent 10 Trade Boxes (5 carpenter and
5 builder) on 12th July to help the rebuilding. They will require funding when the
situation in Pakistan becomes clearer.
Namibia – Charity Drive Namibia -2010. The drive is organized together with the
Swakopmund Rotary Club in Namibia (District 9350) with the support of Namibian
Embassy in Stockholm and Namibian Tourist Board. Charity Drive Namibia is
organized in support of Mondesa Youth Opportunities (www.mondesayouth.org) –
a private school in Swakopmund area, that is fully dependent on donations. MYO
provides an alternative for state education system in Namibia. The organizers
are looking for a team of four persons from UK to participate in this drive. One
team will pay annual tuition fee of one student in this school. The Drive itself
(30.Oct. – 06.Nov.2010), as the name suggests, is a driving adventure with off-
road vehicles through the most beautiful and remote places of Namibia. More
information can be found at: www.andmoments.com/eng/trips/charity-drive/main
Keep doing what Rotarians do best:
Drew Hughes
RIBI International Resource Group Chairman 2010/11
