In 2009 Rotary New Zealand responded rapidly to Tsunami-affected Samoa with a New
Zealand government grant of $90,000. Local Rotarians were available on standby for an immediate response. Local organisation Rotary Apia in Samoa conducted a rapid assessment of the damage and the resulting needs and vulnerabilities of communities. Collaboration with other agencies ensured that there were no duplications in the response, and Rotary agreed to take responsibility for 500 households in five villages (approximately 2,400-2,700 people). Rotary New Zealand coordinated the airlifting of 500 Emergency Response Kits from Auckland, Fiji and Australia. Local Rotarians in Samoa were mobilised to deliver the kits to the 500 households. Follow up visits to a wide sample of households who received the Emergency Kits confirmed the effectiveness of both the kits for community members, and the fact that they had received no other non-food support. This highlights both the need for the non-food kits after an emergency and also the successful coordination between the agencies to avoid duplication of responses. The Administrator conducted an evaluation within four weeks of the response, between 20-22nd October.
Zealand government grant of $90,000. Local Rotarians were available on standby for an immediate response. Local organisation Rotary Apia in Samoa conducted a rapid assessment of the damage and the resulting needs and vulnerabilities of communities. Collaboration with other agencies ensured that there were no duplications in the response, and Rotary agreed to take responsibility for 500 households in five villages (approximately 2,400-2,700 people). Rotary New Zealand coordinated the airlifting of 500 Emergency Response Kits from Auckland, Fiji and Australia. Local Rotarians in Samoa were mobilised to deliver the kits to the 500 households. Follow up visits to a wide sample of households who received the Emergency Kits confirmed the effectiveness of both the kits for community members, and the fact that they had received no other non-food support. This highlights both the need for the non-food kits after an emergency and also the successful coordination between the agencies to avoid duplication of responses. The Administrator conducted an evaluation within four weeks of the response, between 20-22nd October.Cook Islands – Cyclone Pat 17th February 2010
A State of Disaster was declared by the Prime Minster for the Island of Aitutaki, and a State of Emergency was declared for Rarotonga. Many houses and buildings were badly damaged or destroyed on Aitutaki. Up to 400 families on Aitutaki were unable to return to their homes as their roofs had been completely destroyed. There were insufficient skilled people on the island to do makeshift repairs so people were desperate for immediate support. Rotary Cook Islands worked with Disaster Management throughout the operation. Following a Cabinet Meeting, the Director of Emergency Management Cook Islands asked Rotary for a supply of Emergency Response Kits for Aitutaki. This followed their Disaster Management team in Aitutaki assessing the immediate needs. The NZ Defence Force C130 sent from New Zealand did not have sufficient space and Rotary New Zealand immediately sent 50 kits by commercial airliner. Red Cross Cook Islands also inquired as to whether Rotary New Zealand could supply them with supplies of Emergency Response Kits.Fiji – Cyclone Tomas 15th March 2010
After the impact of Cyclone Tomas, Rotary Fiji activated its team under direction of Warwick Pleass and Bob Niranjan Joint Emergency Area Response Managers who alerted all Rotary Clubs to be on standby. As soon as winds lost intensity relief supplies were moved to the area’s that were most affected: Tavueni, Eastern Vanua Levu and the Lau Group. Emergency Response Kits stationed in Lautoka/Nadi were shipped to Suva. Contact was made with DISMAC – Fiji Govt’s Disaster Committee, whom Rotary Fiji has worked with prior, and the first supplies were loaded on the MV Sulliven to reach Taveuni, however the ship broke down. DISMAC made alternative space available on the C130 Hercules from the RAAF and Rotary Fiji sent across 30 Emergency Response Kits to Labasa. The needs assessment required the supplies to be sent by road to Savusavu, where it was put on a ship departing for Taveuni. Rotary Club Taveuni Emergency Response Coordinator Geoffrey Amos and his team managed distribution. A second shipment of 47 Emergency Response Kits together with 10 Boxes of food/ clothes/ shoes collected from local Rotary clubs were sent on the MV Sulliven when it was back in service.
