THE ROTARY DISASTER RELIEF ROTARIAN ACTION GROUP (DRRAG)

ROTARY DISASTER ALERT

www.rghf.org/drrag

May 10, 2008

Dear Colleagues:

The Cyclone ‘Nargis’ in Myanmar clearly illustrates the necessity for the Disaster Relief Rotarian Action Group (DRRAG).

When a natural or other disaster occurred, Rotarians most often wished to work with Rotarians. Moreover, rather than send a ‘check’ to the Red Cross or C.A.R.E. - Rotarians wanted to be immediately and intimately involved and to take action.

PLEASE READ -- Rotary Disaster Alert – Myanmar

CLICK HERE: www.rghf.org/drrag

We (DRRAG) are a very new Rotarian Action Group and our purpose is to provide the opportunities for response.

Operationally, DRRAG will provide a worldwide structure for Rotarians to participate effectively in disaster response and recovery that will be both a timely emergency response to victim needs (as we are now doing in Myanmar) and long-term help in furthering and assisting recovery.

In this our second ‘Disaster Alert Newsletter’ we bring to your attention - Rotarian run and Rotary related entities that are capable of quick emergency response and in addition we’ve provided some select international NGOs with whom you might also wish to work.

We have highlighted a key (Rotary supported) first responder - ShelterBox.

Click here: www.rghf.org/drrag

Then click on the flashing new icon.

Please pass this alert forward to your clubs and districts

As the humanitarian crisis worsened in Myanmar’s delta region after a powerful cyclone hit on 3 May, a response team of four specially trained ShelterBox volunteers moved into devastated areas on Thursday (08 May) to distribute more than 800 ShelterBox containers.

From the NYT (10May), “Six days after a the cyclone churned through the coastal plain of Myanmar, it is clear the damage is great and that little aid has made it to the thousands of villagers along the sea south of Yangon. The smell of rot and death is in the air”

ShelterBox, a grassroots disaster relief organization supported by Rotary clubs around the world, was among the first charities to reach cyclone victims. It was important that they were able to accomplish this since desperately needed aid from many other international groups had been stalled at the border for days by Myanmar’s military government.

Rotarians, I invite you to join us, to work with us and to bring your unique talents and interests to this rapidly growing ‘Action Group’. We have included an application form on page 7 of our newsletter.

Sincerely,

John J. Eberhard, QC LLD.,

RI Past Director

Chair, Disaster Relief Rotarian Action Group

jeberhard@crcid.org

Disaster alerts are sent to Rotarians through a partnership with the Rotary Global History Fellowship: www.rotaryhistoryfellowship.org