ShelterBox HQ is buzzing with as we build our response to the flooding across Southern Africa. Our response team will be arriving in Malawi today (Friday, 22 March) – including a Response Team Member from Australia. They will work with the government and other humanitarian organisations to assess needs. We are expecting our support for families affected by the flooding to include ShelterKits, water filters and mosquito nets.
Rotary support
Rotary District 9210 is the most affected district, covering Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. DG Hutchson Mthinda is in close contact with ShelterBox and has been providing local updates.
To assess damage to homes and understand what support families will need for recovery as the floodwaters recede, we have also been in touch with the Rotary Club of Limbe in southern Malawi. This club has supported a previous ShelterBox response to flooding in 2015.
We have been closely monitoring the impact of the flooding and cyclone across the whole region, which has also affected Rotary District 9400 (covering South Africa, Botswana and, crucially, Maputo in southern Mozambique). We are in regular contact with Past President Bruno Maximiano do Amaral of the Rotary club of Polana in Maputo, who has worked with our teams previously and is ready to offer assistance if required.
Partnership
As always Rotary clubs around Australia are continuing to provide both monetary and practical knowledge and assistance to assist our deployments. Please feel free to share this latest news with your club members to let them know how ShelterBox and Rotary are working together to support families affected in Southern Africa.