1 The first consignment of 200 Water-Survival Boxes reached Miami yesterday

 and are booked by DHL on 'the next available flight' into Port au Prince. They are consigned to PP Dr Claude Surena (Rotary Haiti Disaster Chair) and the Haitian Red Cross and will be distributed by Rotarians and members of the local Red Cross Society.

2 A French Search and Rescue team (Pompiers sans Frontieres) that flew into Port au Prince from Bordeaux on 14 January were equipped with two WSBs (for their own use to ensure clean water whilst they carried out their mission). They have since summoned the 50 WSBs supplied by us and held in their depot in France (an arrangement made with our twin Club in Blanquefort-en Medoc last year) for distribution to families in need. Given the congestion in Miami airport that is holding up aid supplies being flown in from England the WSBs from France will have been the first to arrive!

3 During the past week Rotarians from my own Club with help from the Bath and Somer Valley Clubs have packed a further 175 boxes. They will be sent out next week as soon as we can secure a clear path into Port au Prince.

4 More boxes will be packed next week - new stock has been delivered and we have sessions booked.

5 Last year we supplied 100 WSBs to Taiwan following the devastation caused by Typhoon Morakot. PP Dr Jo Wong, who coordinated the Rotary aid through World Vision Taiwan then has been in contact. She is now coordinating aid for Haiti and hopes to be able to help with funding supplies of WSBs which we would send direct to Haiti .

6 Our French twin Club have enlisted the help of four other Rotary Clubs in the Bordeaux region and plan to raise funds sufficient to pay for 50 boxes.

7 Donations received to date total some £39,000 - sufficient to cover the cost of 260 WSBs. Special mention should be made of District 1110 (comprising 75 Clubs in Hampshire, East Dorset, South Wiltshire, the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands ) that has already contributed in excess of £12,000 (say 80 boxes). We are aware of the wide range of fund-raising activities being run by Rotary Clubs, local communities, schools, and individuals across the country and are most grateful for your tremendous efforts. Please pass our thanks to all your Clubs and members. Without your help we could not achieve what is being done.

8 Our local BBC Regional TV Points West covered our packing operation last Monday and BBC Bristol plan to broadcast a live interview with me on the Breakfast programme around 8.00 am on Monday, 25 January.

9 Some letters of thanks to donor Clubs have already been sent out, but due to the urgent business of getting boxes packed etc others have been delayed. However, the remainder are being prepared over this weekend and we should be up-to-date by Monday! Given the large number of donations I have prepared a generic letter rather than the more personal style I would normally prefer – I hope you will understand the situation.

Please feel free to use the above information when briefing your local news media.

Yours in continuing Rotary Service

Hugo Pike

Chairman – Worldwaterworks Limited (Water-Survival Box project)

PP RC Chelwood Bridge – D 1200.