The UK-based charity Aquabox (which is listed as a beneficary on the VMware Foundation) has been heavily involved with relief efforts following widespread floods in South Asia, which have killed more than 1,200 people and affected millions. The severe flooding from monsoon rains has devastated communities and destroyed crops across India, Nepal and Bangladesh, raising fears of food shortages and the risk of disease.
Since its formation in 1992, Aquabox has distributed more than 110,000 humanitarian aid boxes to countries around the world suffering from natural or man-made disasters, helping hundreds of thousands of people, and the charity has been particularly active over the past few weeks.
Within days of the floods, Aquaboxes were airlifted to those areas in dire need of support. Each Aquabox is designed for a family and contains a filter for providing safe drinking water as well as over 70 humanitarian aid items, including shelter materials and tools, blankets and sheets, cooking utensils, personal hygiene items, baby and children’s clothing, educational items and toys.
Aquabox Trustee Roger Cassidy revealed that these boxes had been held in stock in Nepal. “Sadly, the country endures disasters on a regular basis,” explained Roger. “Aquabox has long-established partnerships with Rotary Clubs in Nepal, the British Gurkha Rifles, Nepal Armed Police, Nepalese Army and other agencies, and we were able to work through these organisations to respond quickly and effectively after the floods occurred.”
Aquabox is now sending more aid to both Nepal and Bangladesh over the coming weeks to provide safe drinking water and humanitarian aid to the communities affected, but urgently needs to raise funds for these follow-up shipments and to replenish the strategic stocks held in Nepal.
If you can, please donate through the Aquabox website (www.aquabox.org), or if your company, organisation or club would like to organise a fundraising event and needs any help or advice. Of course when the time comes round again, you can always donate via the VMware Foundation too!
About Aquabox:
Aquabox is a charity affiliated to Rotary International and is based in Wirksworth, Derbyshire. Established in 1992, Aquabox has shipped over 110,000 boxes of humanitarian aid and filters to provide safe drinking water to communities affected by man-made and natural disasters in more than 50 countries around the world. The charity relies entirely on donations and fundraising to purchase the aid boxes and their contents. With over 70 volunteers and only one part-time paid administrator, the proportion of donations contributing directly to humanitarian aid is amongst the highest achievable. Aquabox received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in June 2016, in recognition of the contribution made by the charity and its volunteers and many supporters in helping those in need at times of crisis.