By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
ENDEAVOUR Hills Rotarians are marshalling a powerful aid response into typhoon-flattened provinces in the Philippines.
Hans Van Dyk, a local Rotary Club member and one of 63 Disaster Aid Response Team members worldwide, is co-ordinating publicity for the cause.
He and other DART members have helped out on the ground after cyclone devastation in the Philippines in 2011 and 2012 – but nothing near the overwhelming scale of Typhoon Haiyan.
“Our team leader says the destruction was far worse in intensity than the 2004 Asian tsunami.
“Almost every home was destroyed and thousands (of people) are missing.”
Disaster Aid Australia, based and supported at Rotary Club of Endeavour Hills, has sent 250 family survival packs as well as extra eight-person tents, $3500 water filtration systems, tarps, tools, blankets, mosquito netting and even nails to help shelter homeless families and for them to rebuild their homes.
DART members had already helped homeless families in Bohol after the 15 October earthquake.
They were quickly seconded to typhoon relief duties in the same province after Typhoon Haiyan struck on 8 November.
“When you go in, all the infrastructure is destroyed.
“We have to make do and live the best we can as we deliver the aid best we can in the most difficult of circumstances,” Mr Van Dyk said.
“In our training, they condition you to work in a disaster zone by putting you under extreme pressure day and night before you break.
“You have to know how to work with the military. You’re staying in not-even-one-star accommodation – there’s been times when I’ve stayed in jail cells and wished I had a tent instead.
“The food can be horrendous in a developing country.”
Disaster Aid Australia are set to send another 100 family packs, each worth $800, but its stocks warehoused in China are depleted.
“We’re looking for more funding to continue to provide aid and to build up stock,” Mr Van Dyk said.
“It looks like we’ll be there at least till January.”
To sponsor and enter a fundraising raffle for a car, go to facebook.com/disasteraidaustralia or to disasteraidaustralia.org.au.
Otherwise donate to Disaster Aid Australia Overseas Aid Fund via BSB 633 000, account number 1400 38993.
