The Rotary-backed charity Aquabox has been working with emergency relief agencies responding to the disastrous aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami which hit the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
More than 1,558 people are thought to be dead, missing or injured following the 7.5 magnitude tremor and tsunami on September 28th.
The UK government has pledged to match the first £2 million of public donations to the Disaster Emergency Committee’s earthquake appeal, boosting aid to the tune of £5 million.
Meanwhile, charities such as the Derbyshire-based Aquabox have been sending water filters to south-east Asia to help relief efforts.
A plane carrying shelter kits, solar lanterns and water purifiers left Doncaster Sheffield Airport last Thursday, bound for Sulawesi, where 70,000 people have been left homeless.
The charity is expecting to send out 180 Family Filters, each serving a family of 5 people, and 19 Community Filters, each serving community amenities such as medical centres, schools and village centres. Together these filters can provide safe drinking water to around 7,000 citizens.
We all know that safe drinking water is a primary need following major disasters. This is a recurring theme in the news reports coming in from Indonesia.”
Since the news broke, Aquabox volunteers have been working hard to assemble, test and pack water filters ready for collection and transport to Indonesia. This relief package will cost the charity over £70,000.
A spokeswoman said: “We all know that safe drinking water is a primary need following major disasters. This is a recurring theme in the news reports coming in from Indonesia.
“Not only is this needed to sustain life, it prevents the spread of debilitating water-borne disease which seriously impacts on the ability of people to rebuild communities and it reduces pressure on beleaguered medical teams.”
Over many years, Aquabox has secured partnerships with trusted agencies to ensure the aid is distributed to those in need.
Aquabox relies totally on donations to carry out its work and the spokeswoman stressed that the charity wants to assure donors their generosity is not wasted.
Over the past five months, Aquabox has responded to humanitarian crises in Yemen, Cameroon, Somalia, Kerala, and the Philippines. The costs of the filters alone for these relief operations amounts to over £130,000. The freight costs are extra.
The charity continues to support citizens in Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and they are also providing water filters for post-earthquake communities in Nepal.
Meanwhile, Aquabox trustees are also considering further calls for aid including Eritrea.
Details of Aquabox’s work and how to donate can be found on their website and their Facebook page.
Cheques payable to ‘Aquabox’ can be sent to Aquabox, PO Box 5398, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 4ZP.
