In our part of the world summer is most likely the time for disasters. Australia is known for storms, floods and fires. New Zealand and the Pacific for cyclones, volcanoes and earthquakes. Our people suffer significantly when these traumatic events occur.

Article written by PDG Lindsay May OAM, Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator

To provide support to communities in time of environmental disasters, The Rotary Foundation Trustees instigated the Disaster Response Grant (DRG). Funded by contributions from clubs and individuals it enables a District Governor to apply for up to US$25,000 to launch their own immediate relief projects or work with established relief organisations to help their communities recover.

Further, The Rotary Foundation may establish individual funds in the wake of specific disasters and some of these include relief for ‘recent’ major disasters in Syria, Pakistan and Morocco plus Ukraine Response Fund providing support for refugees.

Through Disaster Response Grants, Rotary supports 3 phases of relief:

1. Immediate response – our local clubs and partners immediately offer helping hands
2. Short term assistance – our clubs and districts help affected communities wherever we can through funds and materials to re-establish day-to-day operations
3. Long-term rebuilding – our clubs plan and implement projects that rebuild affected communities

To date, many Zone 8 Districts have successfully applied for a DRG and assisted their communities. Examples include:

In one week in March 2022, The Rotary Foundation approved 5 Disaster Response Grants to assist with flood recovery and humanitarian relief in our region:

• D9560 - Central and Northern Queensland - for animal feed
• D9620 - Greater Brisbane - for flood recovery and humanitarian relief
• D9640 - Gold Coast and Northern Rivers, NSW - for flood recovery and humanitarian relief
• D9685 - North and Western Sydney - for flood recovery and humanitarian relief
• D9920 - Auckland and the Pacific - for education needs for 10 primary schools in Tonga to help in the aftermath of the volcano eruption

Four Disaster Response Grants for Ukraine initiated by the following districtshave been approved:

• D9620 – to provide accommodation, bedding, cookware, educational items, clothes, laptops, food and medication for Ukrainian refugees in Australia
• D9685 – to provide clothes, food and household items to Ukrainian refugees in Australia
• D9910 – to provide two modular homes to Ukraine
• D9940 – to provide ambulances and medical equipment for ambulances in Ukraine

Others grants approved includes ones initiated by D9910 and D9920 to support recovery in our Pacific Island countries following a number of cyclones and those initiated by D9910, D9920 and D9930 to support communities in Auckland, Northland and Hawkes Bay heavily impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle in January 2023

Many more clubs and individuals have donated to the Disaster Response Fund to enable these crucial relief program’s to be delivered..

You are encouraged to support this vital Rotary Foundation initiative.

Full details, applications and T&Cs are available at Rotary Disaster Response Grants.