Typhoon Haiyan - November 2013
Comments & Updates
Typhoon Haiyan - November 2013
Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines - November 2013 |
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February Update |
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Peter Pearce reports January 2014
Appeal totals
We had another great week last week, with over $150,000 dollars being donated!
The Philippines Appeal total for ShelterBox Australia stands at over $860,000
The Syria Refugee Appeal total for ShelterBox Australia stands at over $137,000
The UN has just launched its biggest ever appeal, to help victims of the war in Syria, they are appealing for $6.5 billion (that is not a typo). The scale of this disaster is almost unimaginable and our fundraising focus is now firmly back on the Syria Refugee Appeal. Hopefully our new appeal page will be active on the website, ready to fully re-launch the appeal in the New Year.
Thanks for your hard work.
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The Rotary Club of Bacolod South writesI am enclosing our "enhanced" poster requesting aid for the Haiyan typhoon victims that you can circulate to the Rotary Clubs in your District. As indicated on the poster, areas in our District were also affected (not just Tacloban and Samar). While Bacolod City was spared by Haiyan, the northern coastal cities/towns of Cadiz, Sagay and Manapla have the highest number of totally-damaged houses. Bacolod South intends to adopt a village in these three areas and help rehabilitate the damaged-house victims. Thus, we are soliciting for construction materials (such as lumber, nails, galvanized iron sheets, etc) and temporary shelter (especially tarpaulins). We are targeting 100-300 houses for rehabilitation, not much really, considering that over 20,000 houses (mostly of light materials) were damaged.
For your information, our District has decided to adopt an island village in the northern coastal fishing town of Estancia, Iloilo, where most of the fishermen lost their fishing boats. We are raising funds to purchase replacement fishing boats for them.
Also, I have been tasked by my Dist. Gov. Mark Ortiz to coordinate with ShelterBox for feasibility of helping Estancia, where almost 10,000 houses were also damaged.
With regards to relief goods, we continue to receive donations and distribute the goods to victims in Cadiz City, Sagay City and Manapla, all located in my home province of Negros Occidental.
Thus, I would recommend that your Club assist us in the rehabilitation of the damaged houses.
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ShelterBox update 26 November - Peter PearceSo far ShelterBox has distributed 137 ShelterBoxes and 404 ShelterBox tents in the Philippines since the Typhoon (these numbers do not include aid previously distributed following the earthquake).
The following aid is en route and will arrive between now and mid-January 2014:
2,664 ShelterBox Tents
1,012 ShelterBoxes
1,500 Midi tents
16 ShelterBox SchoolBoxes
400 Mosquito nets
400 Thirst Aid Stations.
In total, ShelterBox aims to help 6,432 families affected by Typhoon Haiyan.
The ShelterBox Australia Appeal fund stands at over $370,000.
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It is hard to believe that it is just on two weeks since Typhoon Haiyan devastated towns from Samar to Leyte (where Tacloban and Ormoc are) to northern Cebu and Roxas city. With over 10 million people displaced, 600,000 homeless and over 4,000 dead it is hard to imagine the enormity of this event.
DG Graeme Davies spoke to a number of us early last week and sought counsel as to how quickly we should respond. It was agreed that we would look at longer term solutions where funds could be directed via other Rotary Clubs in the Philippines and through aid agencies such as Shelter Box and Disaster Aid Australia. A small group with links to the Philippines and International projects met with DG Graeme last Friday to “brainstorm” any ideas and develop a working plan.
We understand that in District 9685 there are a few clubs with close Rotary connections in the Philippines such as Roseville Chase and Penrith and Northlakes Toukley. Since the disaster all of these clubs have had some dialogue with the Rotary Clubs in the Philippines. For example in the case of Northlakes Toukley the sister club Makati Dasmarinas has suggested helping the Benedictine Nuns at St Pauls Hospital in Tacloban City and also Shelter Box.
We understand that some clubs will want to proceed with plans you may already have in place, which may involve sending goods, money or supporting ShelterBox or Disaster Aid Australia directly. We ask that you please proceed with these plans as your support is much needed.
Our committee decided that there would be a number of smaller clubs or clubs that prefer to be part of a consolidated effort who may be interested in working as a group. Our plan is to focus on a few activities and look at longer term solutions and we would love you to be part of the combined group.
How Can we help?
How Do we secure Donations?
Managing the Cash Donations:We are working with RAWCS to establish a special Philippines Relief Fund, from which we can issue Tax Receipts, this is a new experience and will take a few days to set up. Please note that funds processed via RAWCS will attract a management fee. But it is still the best and most efficient way for Rotary Clubs to issue Tax Receipts. Very few clubs in the District are registered to issue Tax Receipts in their own right.
This is a great opportunity for the Rotary Clubs in District 9685 to work together, no politics just a common cause to help the people of the Philippines who can surely use our help right now. Any question please do not hesitate to contact Maurie Schokman (02) 4390 4298 or email schokma@attglobal.net
Please watch this page for updates: rotarydistrict9685.org.au/Page/typhoon-haiyan-november-2013
District 9685 Philippines Typhoon Haiyan Sub-CommitteeMichael MacQuillan – International Service Chair D9685
Maurie Schokman – International Chair, Northlakes Toukley
Tess Hall – President, Penrith
Guy Arad – International Chair, Roseville Chase
PDG Marilyn Mercer – Director, ShelterBox Autralia
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Rotary, ShelterBox organize aid for typhoon victims 14 NovemberRotary partner ShelterBox has committed aid for 4,000 families in the Philippines in the form of emergency shelter and other relief assistance. The charity organization welcomes help from Rotary members to identify need and provide support. You can contact them at rotaryrequest@shelterbox.org. When organizing disaster relief efforts – at home or internationally – we encourage you to work with experienced emergency relief organizations to meet the immediate needs of those affected by the disaster. |
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DG Graeme in eNews 14 NovemberThe details of our district's response to the devastation in what is essentially RI District 3860, is being developed by Maurie Schokman (Northlakes Toukley), District International Director, Michael MacQuillan (Chatswood), and President Teresita Hall (Penrith).
In the first instance clubs can donate to ShelterBox Australia (a project partner of RI), Disaster-Aid Australia, or directly to District 3860.
Dr Grace Maano (E-Club of Greater Sydney) is volunteering on a medical team with French doctors wherever they are needed. |
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Rotary International - 11 NovemberRI's regional Office advises that the most effective way to provide relief is to send money direct to the area affected. The funds can then be used where the District believes it is most effective. Food, water, medicines etc. are in great need but can be sourced from other parts of the Philippines.
District Governor Edgar Chiongbiancan has provided bank account details (see table above) through which Rotarians can send contributions to the areas in Tacloban and Northern Cebu that were hardest hit by the typhoon last Friday. |