ROTARY HITS THE GROUND RUNNING IN HAITI
As the need for shelter for Haiti’s estimated one million homeless becomes more urgent with the approach of the rainy season, the island’s Rotarians are working with aid organisations to alleviate the suffering.
Thousands of ShelterBoxes, each containing a disaster relief tent that houses 10 people, a stove, blankets and other life-saving supplies, are already pouring into Port-au-Prince. Rotarian Dr Claude Serena, president of the Haitian Medical Association, is heading the efforts of Haiti’s 16 Rotary clubs to ensure this equipment is reaching the people who most need it.
ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity based in the UK and sponsored by Rotary clubs worldwide. Stocks of ShelterBoxes, bought with funds raised by Rotary clubs – including Harpenden Village Rotary Club - are kept in readiness for international disasters.
By January 14 ShelterBox’s three-man response team – two Americans and one Briton – were in the island’s capital, contacting government officials, other aid agencies and the local Rotarians. With the help of Virgin Atlantic bulk supplies of the boxes are being flown to Miami where a ShelterBox logistics team are coordinating their transfer to Haiti.
Some of the boxes have been used at two Port-au-Prince hospitals to bring the injured under cover while they await treatment. Wayne Robinson of the ShelterBox response team said: ‘Right outside the hospitals hundreds of people have been lying on the sidewalks and on the streets in unbelievable conditions. They are bleeding, they have missing limbs and there are even women giving birth.’
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