Sometimes we get so involved in our own patch that we forget that there are over 1,000,000 other Rotarians doing their "bit" to help the community - communities a lot worse off than us, affected by natural disasters, disease etc. So here's a note received this month from Rotarian clubs in the Bahamas FYI..
 
 
Hi everyone, right now we have an assessment team in the Bahamas. We're talking with local Rotary and other humanitarian organisations to understand how we might be able to support this community.   
 
The latest news from our Operations Team is - 
· The full extent of the shelter needs remains unknown. 
· Evacuation shelters in Nassau that have been created in community halls, churches and other communal buildings, have reached capacity at 1,800 people, but more and more families are arriving each day. 
· Recent estimates are that 13,000 homes have been severely destroyed or damaged across the two northern islands. So far 4800 people have been evacuated from Abaco to Nassau. 
· Whilst hundreds of people are still missing and priority is still search and rescue, progress is being made by our teams working with the other organisations in the Bahamas to understand what a coordinated plan could consist of and how we might be able to help people create shelter for themselves and their families, so they can start the slow process of trying to rebuild their lives. 
· Shelter items like tarpaulins, shelter kits and household items like solar lights may be needed. However, our teams now need to take the time to confirm this with the people on the affected islands and also to make sure that this need isn't being met by the many other organisations that are working in the Bahamas. It is very important for our teams to make sure these details are confirmed so that we can be sure we are providing the right support at the right time to the people who need it the most. 
· Our teams are in contact with Rotary, including Barry Rassin, who has attended meetings with our team and other agencies including NEMA, IFRC, UN agencies, the Bahamas Red Cross and IOM. 
· A volunteer Response Team member from the US is joining the team already in the Bahamas today.
 
For more information on Hurricane Dorian and the Bahamas head to our webpage for more information - https://www.shelterboxaustralia.org.au/hurricane-dorian/
Thanks everyone, 
Kieryn