Families battling to rebuild their lives after Hurricane Matthew devastated large parts of the Caribbean island of Haiti have been given a helping hand by Rotarians in Newton Aycliffe. The town’s Rotary club has funded the cost of supplying two emergency Shelter Boxes to provide temporary accommodation, warmth and comfort for families affected by the major disaster. Each large plastic box costs £590 and contains, among other items, a 10-person tent, thermal blankets cooking pots and a life-saving water filtration kit. Rtn. John Burrows, who proposed the aid suggestion, said: “Hurricane Matthew battered the island with 145mph winds and torrential rain. Rotary International has now supplied thousands of Shelter Boxes to help those in urgent need of somewhere to live and we felt it was important for us to lend a helping hand.” Recent reports suggest that 60,000 people are still struggling to survive in makeshift camps.
