East African famine 3

Dear Fellow Lions,

The formal invitation from UNICEF for the District to financially assist their operations in the famine area has now been received and can be downloaded from our web site here. With their own medical teams already working in the area, together with their food aid supplies getting through to where they are most needed, they can obviously provide immediate support.

There has been no further update on the support convoy being prepared by Lions Clubs of District 411A or proposals to follow on to this initial response, with the assistance of the LCIF’s US$15,000 grant. It has, however, been suggested that a “Horn of Africa Appeal” may be established through the MD LCI Appeal Fund open for donations from MD105 Clubs which would initially be transferred to District 411A or alternatively be held awaiting LCIF’s decision on their own Appeal. This proposal is to be discussed at this weekends Council of Governors meeting.

There are, therefore, currently two options. If your Club or members wish to make immediate donations the only option is to do so through UNICEF and your cheques or bank transfers should be sent via the District Charities Treasurer as detailed in the accompanying letter.

Alternatively you may wish to await the outcome of the Councils decision, which will be known after this weekend, bearing in mind that at this time we are not aware of the future action planned by District 411A.

East African famine 2

Dear Fellow Lions,

Over the past 48 hours the Lions Clubs of District 411A have advised that they are preparing a convoy of aid to be despatched to the Somalia border area. At this time they do not have prepared plans to follow on to this initial response. However, LCIF have also announced that they are making a special grant of US$15,000 to District 411A for financial support to their aid operations.

There has also been further discussions with UNICEF who have advised that they already have doctors and nurses working in the area and that currently their supplies are getting through to those in need, despite serious access problems. They have also reported that more than 2 million children under 5 years are acutely malnourished.

In the next 24 hours we will be further investigating both of these options in order that I can advise tomorrow, Thursday, of the recommended options to follow for your Club or individual members.

East African famine

Bill Blake, District 105SE Disaster Response Coordinator, has issued the following:

Dear Fellow Lions,

Following the deepening of the crisis in East Africa, over the past few days I have been investigating reliable and secure methods whereby Lions, Lioness and Leo Clubs or individual members can provide aid to the area.

At this point in time LCIF do not have proposals to launch an Appeal, although discussions are still ongoing with Lions Clubs in Kenya and through LCI as to how this could be achieved. In respect of a possible LCIF initiative there would have to be a Lions organisation on the ground to closely administer and control the financial aid. That in itself creates problems since Somalia is a virtual war zone, the border area is remote from main habitation in Kenya, quite apart from poor security.

In the meantime and following up possible alternative reliable providers of aid, it has been necessary to liaise with the UK Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) and UNICEF, the latter having now formally requested assistance from Lions Clubs District 105SE. There are still, of course, major logistical problems in reaching those in urgent need for all Agencies who provide aid.

Whilst I do appreciate that there are serious concerns by members of the family of Lions, not only in SE but across the Multiple District and worldwide, I would suggest that you delay any immediate action for the next 24 – 48 hours until an update has been received from LCIF regarding their possible plans.

If that does not materialise in that timescale, I will contact you all again to update you and, if necessary, suggest that you then send any donations your Clubs may wish to make, or personal donations from individual Lions or the public, to the District Charities Treasurer (PDG Tom Berry) who is currently making financial arrangements with UNICEF. You will then be able to donate by cheque or Bank transfer – if the latter I will confirm the appropriate SE banking details and you will need to email him to notify the amount and the donor.

Many thanks and I will be in contact again no later than Wednesday evening.