ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
11 October 2005
To all Rotarians Affected by the Recent Earthquake in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India and Floods and Mudslides in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua:
We are deeply saddened to learn of the recent earthquake that hit Pakistan, Kashmir, Afghanistan and India, and of the floods and mudslides in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua caused by Hurricane Stan. It has been devastating to learn of these catastrophes that have taken the lives of more than 30,000 people.
As Rotarians will seek out opportunities to provide immediate and long-term assistance to your communities, please contact RI staff with information regarding local relief efforts being undertaken by clubs in your area so that we may share this information with the Rotary community via the RI Web site (www.rotary.org/programs/wcs/disaster/reliefefforts.html).
Please send a description of your club’s project, Rotarian contact information, and photographs (if possible) to the World Community Service Program Coordinator
(wcs@rotaryintl.org) in the International Service Programs section. Your relief efforts will be posted on the RI Web site for Rotarians wishing to contribute funds and/or donated goods to victims.
When organizing your club or district's response to a local or international disaster, we recommend that Rotarians work closely with an experienced disaster relief organization such as the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
While an immediate response is necessary at this time, we encourage you to begin thinking of long-term assistance projects. Please visit the RI Programs Web pages on the RI Web site (www.rotary.org/programs/wcs) for information on the World Community Service Projects Exchange and The Rotary Foundation Web pages (www.rotary.org/foundation/grants) for information on Humanitarian Grants.
As always, our thoughts are with you during this time of need and you have the support of Rotarians and RI staff around the world.
Sincerely,
Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar
RI President
Frank Devlyn, Trustee Chairman
The Rotary Foundation