Prepositioned supplies are held in Port Vila and Santo, Vanuatu to respond to such events. The aftermath always impacts on water, sanitation, health, food security, and agriculture. We will be supporting partners in country focusing on the vulnerability of the most affected communities. It's never about us, it's always about them.
Vanuatu consists of 83 relatively small, geologically islands of volcanic origin (65 of them inhabited), with approx. 1,300 kilometres between the most northern and southern islands. The Government of Vanuatu is undertaking a series of rapid assessments across the country. The International NGO community including Rotary in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) have offered support and ready to respond. 600 Rotary Emergency Response Kits (ERKs) are already prepositioned at Port Vila and Santo. Additional supplies are available if called upon. When making a donation, please indicate this and/or any other event you wish your donation to go towards
We continue to partner directly with Rotary Ukraine as it forwards donations to where they are needed the most. We’re fortunate to have New Zealand resident and member of a Ukraine Association in New Zealand Yuriy Gladun to assist Rotary with communication and translation. He recently visited his homeland to observe first-hand those who are benefitting from New Zealand donors’ generosity. Yuriy spent much of the time with Senior Ukraine Rotarian IPDG Volodymyr Bondarenko who is coordinating the response.
Initially, humanitarian hubs were set up on the western border of Ukraine where goods from Europe and the world arrived daily. Among other items were essential medicines, medical equipment, food, water, clothing and linen. This was followed by powerful diesel and gasoline generators delivered to communities and hospitals across 11 cities where the electricity grids had been destroyed. The generators make it possible to survive during blackouts.
More recently, activity has concentrated around Moshchun, a village to the north of Kyiv, which has been completely destroyed. Modular buildings are being installed to replace family homes that were previously on the land. The target is to build 300 - a huge undertaking supported by Rotary in Great Britain, Germany, Spain and Japan as well as New Zealand. As the devastation from the conflict continues, essential services are faced with continually having to replace ambulances and fire trucks as they are destroyed. As tens of thousands of people are being forced to relocate to other towns and cities, infrastructure and essential services have to adapt to increased populations across Ukraine.
With no end in sight, please continue to support the appeal, especially as winter brings with it additional challenges.
This appeal is supported by members of the Ukraine Associations of New Zealand and other concerned New Zealand citizens. Rotary in Ukraine has 62 clubs, 1111 Rotarians, and 380 Rotaractors who work with a committee set up by PDG Volodymyr.
On 6 February 2023, a catastrophic and deadly 7.8 earthquake struck southern and central Turkey and western Syria. It occurred 34km west of the city of Gaziantep, causing massive damage and tens of thousands of fatalities. A large winter storm hampered rescue efforts, dropping snow on the ruins and bringing plummeting temperatures. This earthquake was the strongest recorded to hit Turkey since 1999 and was followed by numerous aftershocks. In mid-February, the death toll surpassed 40,000.
We in New Zealand are only too aware of the impacts a strong earthquake can have.
We appeal to Rotarians and members of the public to donate so we can provide financial assistance to those in all communities most affected by the quake.
The task that lies ahead is massive as large numbers of homes have been destroyed and many thousands of people displaced.
Our priority is, as always, to support the most vulnerable - to help them get their lives and livelihoods back to normal as soon as possible.
Can you help us to help them?
Cyclone Gabrielle has caused widespread havoc and personal tragedy across the upper North Island. We know that many of our generous Rotarian and non-Rotarian donors who are always conscious of the needs of others have had their own properties and livelihoods destroyed. We are sure that those who are not in that position would want us to support those that are.
Please donate to our appeal with them in mind.
Our aim: To raise funds urgently to provide financial assistance to those affected in the impacted flood areas.
The challenge: Large numbers of homes have been flooded and many destroyed and vulnerable owners and/or occupiers need support to restore and refurbish their homes.
How: We are working with Rotary clubs in the area and others to identify individuals who are most adversely affected in order to provide them with assistance.
Please help us to help them restore their lives and livelihoods to as normal as possible.
Beginning on Friday, 27 January 2023, regions across the upper North Island of New Zealand experienced widespread catastrophic floods caused by heavy rainfall, with Auckland being the most significantly affected. Flooding was widespread across the city, with West Auck-land and North Shore being the worst affected. NIWA reported that an entire summer's rain fell within one day in what it described as a 1-in-200-year event. The event is considered to be the worst flood-ing in Auckland's modern history. Over the following days other areas of the upper North Island were similarly impacted. The New Zealand Government is providing a $5 million package of emer-gency support to assist business owners. There is also serious disruption to famers, growers, and ru-ral communities. Government is supporting their clean-up, assessment, and recovery efforts.
Summary: To raise funding to provide financial assistance to those affected in communities in the impacted flood areas.
Challenge: Large number of homes have been flooded and vulnerable owners and/or occupiers need support to restore and refurbish their homes.
Solution: Identified Individuals who are adversely affected will be given assistance.
The priority is to support those who are most in need.
Outcomes: Have assisted those affected to restore their lives and livelihoods to as normal as possible.
On 6 February 2023, a catastrophic and deadly 7.8 earthquake struck southern and central Turkey and western Syria. It occurred 34 km (21 mi) west of the city of Gaziantep, causing widespread damage and tens of thousands of fatalities in the region. It is the strongest recorded earthquake to hit Turkey since 1999 . It is also the deadliest earthquake worldwide since the 2011causing structural damage as far away as Israel and Cyprus.
The earthquake was followed by numerous aftershocks. As of 8 February, 15,899 deaths have been reported in total; 12,391 in Turkey and 3,508 in Syria. A large winter storm hampered rescue efforts, dropping snow on the ruins and bringing plummeting temperatures.
Summary: To raise funding to provide financial assistance to those affected in all communities in the impacted earthquake areas.
Challenge: Large number of homes have been destroyed and tens of thousands of people displaced.
Solution: Individuals and communities will be identified. The priority to support those who are most vulnerable.
Outcomes: The aim is to assist those affected to get their lives and livelihoods back to normal as soon as possible.
The devastation in Pakistan is overwhelming, a Humanitarian Disaster brought about by the forces of nature. Rotary New Zealand will ensure that donations will reach the poorest of the poor partnering always with trusted partners.
Message to Donors.
We are working directly with Rotary DG 2232 Ukraine and being supported by members of the Ukraine Assn. of New Zealand (Northern Region) and others who have requested their members to support our appeal.
Have spoken personally to RIDG 2232 Volodymyr Bondarenko through an interpreter.
The district has 62 clubs, 1111 Rotarians, and 380 Rotaractors.
The DG has set up a Rotary Committee to deal with the humanitarian catastrophe. Daily operational meetings allow us it to respond instantly to the needs of communities in cities and villages where there is a full-scale war.
Humanitarian hubs have been set up on the western border of Ukraine, where humanitarian goods from Europe and the World arrive daily :
• medicines, medical equipment, diapers;
• long-term storage products, baby food, water;
• clothing, linen, hygiene items, and sanitation;
• special equipment, ambulances, fire engines, fire ladders, diesel generators ...;
• equipment for dismantling debris, tractors, bulldozers
• prefabricated houses for migrants.
The Committee have set up bank accounts in Ukraine and Poland.
All donations are used exclusively to purchase the above but mostly to date bullet points 1 to 3 above. The goods are put into family packages.
Distribution is made through the 62 clubs who apply to the district committee and satisfy them that the number of packages they request will be distributed.
Rotarians in Poland are assisting with purchases. Polish trucks cannot cross the border, so goods are transhipped at the border to Ukraine vehicles.
DG 2232 will provide full transparency and reporting.
Unlike some other NGO’s Rotary will not make cash grants.
In collaboration with Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd
Australian Flood Appeal No. 0110
Summary: To raise funding to provide financial assistance to flood victims in Queensland and Northern New South Wales - March 2022
Challenge: Around 15,000 homes have been flooded and some owners will be needing assistance to clean and refurbish their residences.
Solution: Individuals who are adversely affected and require assistance will be identified and be given funds to help with their recovery. It is RAWCS priority to get funds quickly to those who are in need to help them with the clean-up and damage caused by the floods.
Long term impact: The aim is to assist those affected to get their lives and businesses back to normal as soon as possible.
Ukrainian Relief Aid Appeal No. 0115
Summary: To meet immediate lifesaving needs of the crisis-affected civilian population in Ukraine & provide early recovery assistance as soon as feasible. To save & preserve lives, easy suffering & promote self-sufficiency.
Challenge: To provide humanitarian aid to all affected by current events
Solution: Initially funding will be required.
Long term impact: To save & preserve lives, ease suffering & promote self-sufficiency in the long term.
Rotary New Zealand has a long association with trusted partners in Tonga. The effects of the volcano eruption and tsunami on January 15th will be far-reaching, impacting lives and communities certainly for months, possibly years. Satellite images showed a plume of ash, steam and gas rising like a mushroom above the Pacific waters, with a sonic boom heard as far away as the United States. It sent tsunami waves crashing across the shores of Tonga with people rushing to higher ground.
Use of funds
It would appear that the greatest impact is access to potable water, followed by land rehabilitation and the urgent need to restore livelihoods. Our trusted partners are well established to respond to these specific needs.
As always, we seek support from the public and private sectors to match our efforts.
Rotary is actively responding to communities affected by the devastating earthquake on 14 August 2021. Donations will be used to provide basic needs for the most vulnerable through trusted partners.
