When a disastrous flood struck East Timor over the Easter Weekend, the timing could hardly be worse. The small nation of 1.3 million to Australia’s north was experiencing a peak in COVID-19 cases, at a time when the flooding in the capital Dili left important medical supplies destroyed.
Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Dili put out the call to Rotary districts in Australia for urgently needed supplies - a message which reached Australia’s Deputy Representative in Taipei, Rotarian Brent Moore.
The Rotary Club of Taipei International Service Committee quickly came up with a plan to donate 80,000 protective face masks. Within days, production had commenced at Taoyuan manufacturer CoreBio.
Air freighting the cargo to Dili during a pandemic would still prove to be a major challenge - a problem solved through the generous support of Rotarian Antoine Bouin and his professional team at DB Schenker Taiwan.
This week the masks were released by East Timor customs, and will be donated to the Ministry of Health for urgent distribution to those most in need.
Special thanks to Rtn Brent for bringing up the request, Rtn Jason for finding the budget within Service Projects Committee, President Philip and the board members for their unanimous support, Rtn Antoine for sorting out the logistics and Rtn Frank for providing valuable advice to make it happen!
Special thanks to Rtn Brent for bringing up the request, Rtn Jason for finding the budget within Service Projects Committee, President Philip and the board members for their unanimous support, Rtn Antoine for sorting out the logistics and Rtn Frank for providing valuable advice to make it happen!
