[D9640general] [eFlash_Rotary] Digest Number 829

[Garry Krischock]

 Messages In This Digest (2 Messages) 

1. 1569: Massive <>  India flood strands millions From: Sunil K Zachariah 

2. 1570: CNN recognizes Rotarian Tom <>  Henderson From: Sunil K Zachariah 

  Messages 

1.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eFlash_Rotary/message/1487;_ylc=X3oDMTJxbmtka
jB0BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzI3ODYwNzYEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDY0MDg2BG1zZ0lkAzE0O
DcEc2VjA2Rtc2cEc2xrA3Ztc2cEc3RpbWUDMTIyMjE1NjcyNg--> 1569: Massive India
flood strands millions 

 

Mon Sep 22, 2008 6:53 pm (PDT) 

Massive India flood strands millions By Ryan Hyland
[http://www.rotary.org/SiteCollectionImages/News/saboo-news.jpg] 
[http://www.rotary.org/SiteCollectionImages/News/saboo-news2.jpg]
Past RI President Saboo (middle) listens to residents affected by the
massive August flooding in Bihar, India. At bottom; flood victims make
their way to refugee relief camps. Photos courtesy of Saboo
Past RI President Rajendra Saboo visited the Saharsa District of Bihar,
India, last week to survey the devastation caused by August's massive
floods.

The Kosi River in Bihar, one of India's poorest states, overflowed its
banks in August after torrential rainfall from heavy monsoons caused a
dam to burst in southern Nepal, setting off the worst flooding in 50
years. Millions of people have been displaced, and hundreds of villages
are under water in northeast India.

"These are unprecedented conditions. Bihar presented a deadly picture of
devastation," says Saboo, a resident in the Union Territory of
Chandigarh. "We saw the human spirit fight for survival."

During a two-day visit to the region, Saboo, accompanied by Past
Governor Ranjit Bhatia of District 3080 (India), met Governor Lal
Bahadur Singh of District 3250 (India) to tour affected areas and assess
Rotary's response so far.

"I'm happy to see how Rotary clubs and districts from all over the
country are responding," says Saboo. "Rotarians are doing a good job
during the intermediate relief stage. As the rehabilitation stage nears,
I believe Rotary has tremendous potential of doing good, as we have in
many other natural disasters."

Relief aid trucks have been coming in from districts throughout the
country. Districts 3131 and 3140 have already sent trucks full of
medicine, food, clothes, and blankets. Two doctors from District 3100
arrived to provide medical care.
Because areas in Bihar are so ravaged by the flood and conditions are
still too dangerous to return, nearly half of the 1.2 million people
left homeless are in government and relief agency camps.

Homecoming kits
The Rotary Club of Calcutta-Mahanagar plans to send 3,500 ghar wapasi --
or homecoming -- kits, each of which provides comprehensive shelter
relief for a family of four, including two roof tarps, a kerosene stove,
cooking supplies, 500 chlorine tablets, toothpaste, a mosquito net, and
other consumables.

Rotarian volunteers have arrived in Bihar to help distribute kits and
other aid to camp refugees as well as families stranded deep inside
swampy villages.

Saboo said the main need for people in the flood zones is basic medical
care.

As the water recedes, Saboo fears the crowded and often unsanitary
conditions in refugee camps could lead to outbreaks of water- and
airborne diseases.

Rotary districts in India also are arranging accommodations for visiting
volunteer doctors who are coming to provide preventive care in the
refugee camps, he adds.

Under the guidance of RI Director Ashok M. Mahajan, funds collected by
Rotary in India will be leveraged with support of the RI community and
The Rotary Foundation.

Saboo admits to being moved by the spirit and determination of those
affected by the flood. "One thing that hit me hard was the realization
and the appreciation of the power and strength of these people."

"Rotary's compassion and action will make the difference for victims,"
says Saboo. "This is the time when the sincerity of purpose will bring a
sense of tremendous satisfaction far more than any recognition or
credit."

Source: Rotary International News / Courtesy: eFlash_Rotary

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 

2.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eFlash_Rotary/message/1488;_ylc=X3oDMTJxdGVjc
TVyBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzI3ODYwNzYEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDY0MDg2BG1zZ0lkAzE0O
DgEc2VjA2Rtc2cEc2xrA3Ztc2cEc3RpbWUDMTIyMjE1NjcyNg--> 1570: CNN recognizes
Rotarian Tom Henderson 

 

Mon Sep 22, 2008 6:57 pm (PDT) 

CNN recognizes Rotarian Tom Henderson

Rotarian Tom Henderson, founder and CEO of the relief charity
organization ShelterBox <http://www.shelterbox.org/> , appeared on the
international news channel CNN on 5 September for being selected as a
hero. More than 3,000 people worldwide were nominated in response to
CNN's call for stories of ordinary people who do extraordinary work.

The report highlighted the incredible achievements of Henderson and
ShelterBox.

"I'm delighted that ShelterBox was selected to appear on this year's CNN
Heroes," says Henderson, member of the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard,
Cornwall, England. "I would like to thank all of our loyal supporters
and volunteers who have helped us grow to become one of the most
effective aid agencies in the world.

Watch CNN's video on Henderson
<http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2008/09/03/heroes.henderson\
<http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2008/09/03/heroes.henderson.pro
file.cnn?iref=videosearch> 
.profile.cnn?iref=videosearch>

Source: Rotary International News /Courtesy: eFlash_Rotary

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 

 

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