Dear ROTARY,
I hope you and your family are safe and well.
This is the last newsletter of 2024. What an end to the year it has been! Firstly, the response to our Giving Day campaign has been the best ever, with nearly a quarter of a million dollars raised! Thanks to all those who donated and to the generous sponsor who doubled your impact. There's still $25,000 of matched funding left, so it's not too late to donate. https://shelterboxaustralia.cmail19.com/t/j-l-guhlikt-ddtyhtirlk-t/
Yesterday, we received news of the terrible earthquake in Vanuatu. The Operations team is closely monitoring the situation, and we will keep you updated on any ShelterBox response. As well as Vanuatu, there's news below on Cyclone Chido, which ripped through Mozambique and the island of Mayotte, and a story from Bangladesh. Scroll down for a last-minute gift idea for the avid reader in your family 📚.
On behalf of us all at ShelterBox, I'd like to thank you for your support in 2024 and wish you all the best for 2025. If you're celebrating Christmas, I hope it's a very happy one; if you're having a holiday, I hope it's a good one!
This month's quote comes from Brigham Young, “Love the giver more than the gift.”
Thanks for being part of the team. Stay safe.
Mike Greenslade
CEO ShelterBox Australia
Vanuatu - Earthquake
A 7.3 magnitude earthquake has struck Vanuatu, causing significant damage and injuries.
Communication lines are down, and aftershocks continue to challenge relief efforts. The Australian government has offered assistance, and we are working to understand what more might be needed. We have worked with communities in Vanuatu many times before, including after Cyclone Harold in 2020.
Please keep an eye out for updates on a possible response.
Mozambique - Cyclone Chido
Tropical Cyclone Chido developed into a powerfully destructive storm impacting several countries across southeast Africa. The French islands of Mayotte have suffered extensive damage, and early indications suggest northern Mozambique may have been hit hard too.
The picture is slowly becoming clearer in the affected region of Mozambique. The storm made landfall in Cabo Delgado on 15 December, bringing destructive winds of up to 135 miles per hour and heavy rain.
The region has been the focus of a long-running conflict and ShelterBox has been responding to the crisis caused by that fighting with our partner CARE Mozambique.
We had plans in place in case an extreme weather event like this was to compound the existing crisis. We have aid supplies prepositioned with CARE in Mozambique and their teams are already working to access hard-to-reach areas and find out where the need for support is greatest.
Our response will likely support people with high thermal blankets, sleeping mats, kitchen sets, woven bags, mosquito nets and solar lights.