Rebuilding Communities... Together
The Island of Dinagat was hit by a historical Typhoon
Typhoon Odette (Rai) made its first landfalls in the Philippines and hit the island of Dinagat.
The Island, a province known for its pristine beaches, is home to over 128,000 people. With over 375 dead and many more missing this has been one of the worst typhoons to hit the Philippines.
Information from the Dinagat Islands has been extremely limited as a result of the crippled power and telecommunication lines. What we do know is thousands of homes have been flattened.
Disaster Aid International partners Disaster Aid Malaysia and Disaster Aid Australia have direct contacts, Balay Mindanaw, in the region. Those partners have traveled to the island with SkyHydrants to provide urgently needed safe drinking water.
To date, they have 7 SkyHydrants ready to ship to communities in Cebu City, Siargao, and Northern Bohol, supported by the Rotary Club of Pasig.
These will be shipped as soon as air freight space can be found.
They will also be assessing how they can deliver further assistance over the coming days with our support.
(reference Disaster Aid Australia - Brian Ashworth)
If you would like to help Disaster Aid International’s response to help the people of Dinaget please donate.
BC Was Hit With a Devastating Storm
Help Support BC residents affected by the devastating storm and floods that hit the province on November 14-15th, 2021.
Historic rain levels hit the SouthWest corner of BC causing floods and landslides. Abbotsford, Princeton, Merritt, and areas on Vancouver Island were evacuated and are still displaced from their homes. Hundreds of motorists were stranded and helicoptered out by the Department of National Defense near Hope as mudslides on the highway left them without exit options. Major highways were shut down, washed away in sections from rising river levels, and are still under the observation of civil engineers to determine the toll of damage and expected re-opening timeline.
Disaster Aid Canada is in communication with our Rotary and support contacts in the affected areas. Through their first-hand knowledge, we are able to gather funds to provide direct aid to meet the needs of the region.
We will be collaborating with Rotary groups and other organizations to bring support to the people affected. We will update as the details of the programs come our way.
Please donate what you can to help BC Residents. - Please click here to DONATE
BC Storms Emergency Support Update January 2022:
Disaster Aid Canada continues to provide aid to those that are still feeling the effects of last fall's devastating storm in BC. Your support has helped the people of the Tri-City area, the Interior, and Vancouver Island after the storm and floods displaced thousands of residents from their homes. Contacts have been made in areas such as Merritt, Princeton, Kamloops, and Richmond and we continue to add communities.
The raised funds continue to support Rotary groups such as the Rotary Club of Merritt and the Rotary Club of Steveston-Richmond, in cooperation with local community associations, to support the people directly affected by these floods, those most vulnerable to the devastation. We are in direct contact with them as they find ways to support people who have not received government funding, are not eligible for insurance claims, or just need help in the interim.
We are so appreciative of the funds donated so far for the Wildfire and Storm victims in British Columbia.
Your donations have helped address the gaps in immediate emergency services and in the interim services for those who lost their homes. Through the support of gift card donations, supporting local food banks, replacing computers, and providing PPE equipment, we have helped those impacted by storms and wildfires in 2021 and are now developing plans to help with temporary structures as winter impacts the communities. The rebuilding phase in these areas will take some time and funds will be critical once the weather improves in the spring.
Disaster Aid Canada will continue to support these communities hit hardest by these storms. PLEASE DONATE
Rio Blanco Water System Reconstruction Project

Phase 1 is the reconstruction of the dam and the building of a sand filtration system. Phase 2 will include the installation of the main water pipe to the village.
Haiti Was Hit by Another Catastrophic Earthquake!
A 7.2 magnitude Earthquake hit Les Cayes, Haiti on August 15, 2021. The quake has claimed over 1,400 lives and injured thousands more. Haiti is still showing scars of the devastating earthquake in 2010 and the following major Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Most Haitians from Les Cayes that have lost their homes to this disaster have moved to a tent city at a stadium.
Disaster Aid Canada is working with Rotary Groups and other organizations in the affected area to help place the support in the hands of those that need it. We are prepared to send shelter to those displaced from their homes. The evaluation of need is ongoing and Disaster Aid Canada will continue to update our donors as we receive reports from the region. We will update as the details of the programs come our way. Please donate what you can to help Haiti. - Please click here to DONATE
BC is on fire and declares a State of Emergency
BC has declared a State of Emergency, with hundreds of fires burning in our province. Smokey skies, eerie sunsets, and low air quality have people concerned. There are severe wind warnings changing the current conditions rapidly and forcing more evacuation orders and alerts. Currently, 18,000 properties are either on alert or evacuation.
Thousands of people have been evacuated, across multiple BC towns. Firefighters from across the world have arrived to help, and support is being brought in to help anyone affected by the fires.
Disaster Aid Canada will be collaborating with Rotary groups and other organizations to bring support to people affected by wildfires. We will update as the details of the programs come our way.
Please donate what you can to help BC Residents. - Please click here to DONATE
BC Wildfire Update January 2022:
Disaster Aid Canada continues to provide aid to those that are still feeling the effects of last summer's devastating fire season in BC. Across BC, 32,882 people were displaced due to the fires.
The raised funds have been going to support the Rotary BC Wildfire Relief Team. This collaboration is a centralized project to enable the collection of donations to assist the affected regions to directly support people affected by the wildfires. Evacuees have received Gift Cards for food, supplies, and fuel. Many of the evacuees from the town of Lytton were hit a second time, as they had relocated to Merritt and were hit by floods this fall.
While Lytton hasn't been re-built, it is still very much active in the surrounding area and looking forward to eventually rebuilding the community. DAC is supporting the local volunteer fire department by helping to replace their safety equipment. The Firehall and all the equipment inside were lost in the fire. We are providing funds for SCBA gear for the fighters. They protect Lytton and the surrounding areas, including 5 indigenous communities.
We will be focused on the rebuilding phase next and that will be lengthy. Funds will be critical once the weather improves in the spring.
To support the rebuilding efforts in BC's Interior please consider donating to the BC Wildfire Support Fund. PLEASE DONATE
It is like a War Zone in the Hospitals
Constant transportation of the oxygen bottles (when available) is a logistical nightmare and having small oxygen generators in these areas is a solution that is needed now! We already have them sourced and our in country partners know where they need to go. We need the funds to purchase these Generators and Concentrators.
UPDATE - Nutritional Supplements for Severely Malnourished Children in Guatemala

Rotary Clubs of Ladysmith and Chemainus have teamed up with Disaster Aid Canada and the Rotary Club Guatemala Vista Hermosa Satellite Uwara to address malnutrition in the Mayan Villages. Click HERE to donate
You can provide 2 kilo of Nutritional Supplement that will provide the required Nutrition for a mother and child approximately $5.00 Can per month or $4.00 US.
Over 60% of the children are severely undernourished. These Rotary Clubs have been working in Mayan villages for some time and are very aware of the decreasing height and weight of children under six. As a consequence many also suffer from respiratory infections and hunger.

Gerry Beltgens, April 2, 2021
Update on Honduras and Guatemala
Developing a Path Forward - Disaster Aid Canada Forms Disaster Aid Regional Collaborative
Disaster Aid Canada Progress Report on Guatemala and Honduras
Gerry Beltgens, Executive Director Disaster Aid Canada - January 26, 2021
In the fall of 2020 Honduras and Guatemala were hit by named hurricanes Eta and Iota between November 4 and 17, 2020. The rain and wind was so severe that some homes were flooded up to four times in the space of a few weeks. 5.2 Million people were affected in Central America and the Caribbean. 1.5 million people were directly affected in Honduras and Guatemala.
Update: November 27 - Hurricane Eta/Iota Fundraising Gains Momentum across Canada
In Newfoundland a Fundraiser organized by Honduran born Ingred Sierra-Quilty has already raised thousands. Ingrid knows first hand the challenges the people in Honduras face. Now compounded by the hurricanes and tropical storms that have flooded some areas 4 times in the past 2 months and the impact of Covid-19, her people are dealing with the loss of homes, food shortages and infections caused by the polluted waters. Once again the people who have the least are the ones most affected, with no jobs, income support or insurance. Click on "Read More" for the rest of the story
To donate please go to https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/54353
Maya Norte teams up with Disaster Aid Canada to support Flooded Schools in Melaque 
The owners of the local restaurant Maya Norte, have a special connection to Melaque. Anne Manning and Peg Montgomery owned and operated a restaurant in the area for 14 years and have family members that were born there. These days the owners and family live in Ladysmith but still have strong connections, friends and family in Melaque.
Starting in October Maya Norte will have a specialty Melaque Cocktail and Tapas available. A portion of each sale will be donated to helping Melaque schools get back on their feet.
The Rotary Club of Costalegre, in conjunction with support from Disaster Aid Canada and other Rotary Clubs, is helping people who have been affected by this disaster. Rotarians on the ground have been volunteering their time and donating to various community relief efforts.

If you would like to donate to the Melaque fund please Click Here
Beirut Explosion Relief Project and Appeal
Please Help us Prevent Starvation by Providing Food and other Aid to the Mayan Villagers in the Lake Atitlan area of Guatemala
Donate now at: https://
All supplies to be locally sourced. The Mayan Women’s Groups in San Lucas Toliman and San Antonio Palopo know how and where to obtain and distribute supplies.
Fort McMurray Flood Recovery Project
On April 26th, 2020, amidst a global pandemic, Fort McMurray was struck with a second state of emergency from a one in one hundred year flood that evacuated approximately 1200 buildings out of our downtown core and lower townsite. Individuals and families were evacuated out of apartment buildings by boat and forced to leave their homes, many of which attained significant damage of up to 6 feet of water. Most affected by this situation did not have sufficient insurance coverage for their losses and/or had crippling deductibles hindering use of any insurance.
Disaster Aid Canada approached both the Rotary Club of Fort McMurray and the Rotary Club of Fort McMurray Oilsands to see how they might support any recovery efforts for these people. While both clubs were delighted for the support, the Rotary Club of Fort McMurray Oilsands had the capacity to administer the efforts.
Disaster Aid Canada Pivots to Online Club Presentations
June 21, 2020

Disaster Aid Canada has recently moved its operations from Victoria to Ladysmith. Emergency supplies and tents will be stored in Ladysmith as it is an economical, central location with quick access to transportation, airport and ferries. There will be over 100 tents and materials for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief Kits stored in Ladysmith for international and domestic relief programs.

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