In the wake of Cyclone Winston, the largest and most devastating cyclone ever to hit the South Pacific island of Fiji, Rotary members have been working closely with Disaster Aid International to rebuild the country’s communities.
Craig Roberts, a member of the Rotary Club of Newton-le-Willows is a trustee and trained member of one of the Disaster Aid Response Teams (DART) who are deployed all over the world to respond to natural disasters and crises with emergency aid boxes.
When the cyclone hit in February, it was estimated that as much as 45% of the country’s population of over 850,000 people had been displaced following the significant damage done to homes, schools and infrastructure.
Criag started his Disaster Aid training in 2015 and his three week deployment to Fiji was his first with a DART. He commented: “The devastation is beyond words. Disaster Aid International has delivered shelter repair kits to the most remote and needy villages in some dire conditions.”
Despite facing huge logistical and operational problems such as electricity outages, an epidemic of contagious conjunctivitis and the threat of a further cyclone, Disaster Aid UK & Ireland, along with its international partners and with help from supporting Rotary clubs, including those based in Fiji, have completed the final stages of operations in Fiji distributing shelter repair kits.
Craig explains that a big problem has been tackling the poor sanitary conditions: “The main request is for toilet cisterns and tools. When the cyclone hit it destroyed the toilet huts sending metal sheeting and cisterns into the air where they were smashed to pieces. All that is now left is toilet bowls without a flush. This is very unhygienic and is causing the spread of illness. Many are worried that dysentery may take hold.”
The Rotary Club of Newton-le-Willows has supported Disaster Aid for four years and has donated approximately £5,000 to the cause, some of which has gone to tackle the problems being experienced in Fiji.
To find out more about Disaster Aid UK & Ireland, visit their website.
This article was published as part of Rotary Good News Week. To follow Rotary Good News Week, find us on Facebook and Twitter and share your stories using the hashtag #RotaryGoodNewsWeek.
Read our other Good News Stories from this week below:
- Rotary Club of Melksham Art House Café
- Teddies let loose by Rotary Club of Hitchin Tilehouse
- The Gift of Water provided by the Rotary Club of Westbourne
- Interactors receive Diana Award
Published: Friday 15th April 2016
