Victoria’s own Compassionate Resource Warehouse (CRW) is partnering with ICROSS Canada in sending 2 x 40′ HC containers to YEMEN.
I have personally visited the Compassionate Resource Warehouse and can say they are a vital, proactive volunteer organization that is doing amazing work around the globe starting right here in Victoria. They are unsung heroes in every way. Check out these staggering statistics about their latest call to action and please find it in your heart to help in whatever way you can.
Yemen has been experiencing a civil war, food insecurity and now a cholera epidemic.
Over 22.2 million people are in need of assistance with 11.3 million acutely in need.
18.4 million are food insecure with 8.4 million on the brink of starvation.
15.1% of children are acutely malnourished
Over 100,000 cases of cholera
2.6 million in need of shelter
2.8 million in need of education
6.5 million in need of protection
Our partner on the ground- Yemen Vision is an experienced NGO that has brought in containers and has been involved with humanitarian relief for years.
We are looking to send 2 40′ containers- 1 x 40′ HC food container and 1 x 40′ HC mixed relief container
GOOD NEWS: Due to the nature of the cargo (relief goods and food) the UN has authorized on-carriage from Jeddah to Aden.
THE PLAN
The plan is to have the container taken to Taiz and unloaded into a secure warehouse. From there it will be dispersed to 20 different distribution sites in 8 provinces.
Main target will be female headed families, elderly, physically challenged and cholera hospitals. These areas were promised aid in 2017 but due to increased need in other areas, increased destruction and the increasing rise in cholera victims, these areas were not given aid. In each of these communities over 43% are IDP.
Host families, schools and abandoned building house about 60% of these people with the rest finding shelter in tent cities.
Water services are delivered by truck as the water system has been destroyed
Disaster Aid Canada will be providing water filters and tents that can be used as cholera triage or trauma counselling tents.
The containers will be used as community centres
These community centres will provide an opportunity for trauma counselling, some schooling, maternal and babe health clinics, as well as be a distribution location.
TIME FRAME: We would like to have these containers leave early-mid March 2018.
RELIEF GOODS NEEDED
Towels and face cloths for maternity and cholera hospital linen packs
Ladies underwear (new) and pads
Child diapers
First aid equipment
Prosthetic equipment and supplies
Clinic Basins
Medical assessment tools
Clinic instruments: scalpel blades/handles, tissues, scissors, hemostats, needle drivers, BP stethoscope
Scales- adult and child
Crutches and canes
Cleaning buckets, gloves and cleaning cloths
Powdered soap and bleach (oxyclean- type) and cleanser (comet type)
Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Wrapped hand soap
Brushes, combs,
Nail clippers
Blankets
Disaster Aid Tents x 10- DAC needs to raise $$
Disaster Aid Sawyer water filters x 50” DAC needs to raise $$$
Heavy 5 gallon buckets with lids- for food storage and water storage
Trauma counselling art supplies- writing journals, drawing paper, crayons, paints, small stuffed toys
Rubber boots for cholera hospital
Washable infant & child toys
School supplies- pencil crayons, rulers, sharpeners, pencils, geometry sets, backpacks, etc
Solar flashlights and calculators
Hand tools- hammers, wrenches, screwdrivers, tape measures, chisels, cement tools, saws, utility knives, hand
planers, pliers, duct tape, rope, empty tool kits, assorted nails, bolts, screws, etc.
PARTNERS ALREADY SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT INCLUDE:
FV Gleaners has agree to donate dried soup mix to fill a 40′ containers the food.
Prairie Chapel assisting with shipping money
Disaster Aid Canada has agreed to fund raise for 50 Sawyer Water Filters and 10 disaster aid tents. These tents will be used as triage or cholera tents. They are seeing to raise $10,000
Disaster Aid Canada has also agreed to donate over 5000 bars of soap
Canada Comforts has agreed to donated receiving blankets, baby items, and diapers for our maternity and babe kits. These kits help assist with clean safe delivery.
Days for Girls International have ignited their chapters too provide over 1000 Days for Girls kits
Diamond Delivery and First Canadian Messenger will provide transport for mainland donations
Coast Distributors Ltd will provide transport from up Island donations
MCC Abbotsford has provided rolls of sewing fabric and new sandals and will provide blankets for this project. They also donated the transport to our warehouse.
Island Health has donated medical supplies and hospital linen
Northern Health has donated medical supplies
Professional Choice Uniforms has donated nursing uniforms, lab coats, BP cuff and stethoscopes
Helping Hands Abbotsford will donate handmade blankets for our shipment
KMS Tools & Equipment for the World is seeking donations of hand tools
ICROSS Canada will ensure delivery costs are covered.
Camosun College Nursing students toothbrushes
Pacific Christian School Grade 5 & 7 students toothbrushes
THE FINANCIAL NEEDS
We are looking for sponsors the purchase of 2 x 40′ HC containers. These will be used as community centres when they are empty. Cost $3000 each = $6000
We are looking for sponsors for the shipping cost 2 x 40′ $6400 US = $ 8320 Cdn x 2 = $16640
We are looking for sponsors for the barge service 1 x 40′ HC $2000 Cdn = $2000 Cdn
Disaster Aid Canada: needs to raise $10,000 for water filters and tents.
The need is great and the amounts required to meet the need are staggering. However, CRW will send what comes in and make sure that every space is filled as full as they can. ICROSS Canada will ensure proper reporting and pictures from the load c/o Dr. Bridget Stirling.
This shipment is to leave mid-March. The Compassionate Resource Warehouse can be reached at (250) 381-4483 or visit www.crwarehouse.ca
Thank you for spreading the word and helping as you can.