Whilst it feels a little too late to wish you all a Happy New Year, we would of course like to do so anyway.  We are sure we join everyone in hoping that 2021 brings you all, importantly, a healthy 2021 and that during the course of the year we can get back to some sense of normality.  If we can do this, then operationally we can begin to function in the manner that we have become accustomed to over the years.  There remains a huge need for what we do and the many thousands of people that we are supporting need ‘business as usual’ as soon as possible.

Although we are in lockdown and there are travel restrictions, we remain far from standing still.  Here is an update on what we are currently working on.  Many of the points below are things where physical help at the moment is impossible, however donations to either the appeal below or general fundraising will help us to deliver these projects.

2020 Croatia Earthquake appeal

We are starting an appeal to provide urgent support in Croatia (where Hope and Aid Direct’s work began over 20 years ago) after a catastrophic EARTHQUAKE that occurred on 29th December, and yet went almost unreported on UK mainstream media because of BREXIT and Covid.

The region that was worst affected centred on the towns of Petrinja, Sisak, and Klina, with their numerous smaller surrounding rural villages. Seven people were confirmed dead, while 26 others were injured, with six having serious injuries. Destruction is widespread, the centre of Petrinja no longer exists, and rural villagers with damaged houses cannot move because they have livestock to look after.

Essential humanitarian aid supplies of clothes, blankets and food are well supplied by the population in Croatia, so are NOT required, but the Croatian government is providing modular prefabricated container sized units to house families through the harsh winter months.

We have been approached by one of our partner agencies who have asked for help in providing oil filled heaters to keep people warm in this temporary accommodation and we have agreed to do this.

Hope and Aid Direct have already sent £2000 to our partners to purchase an initial supply of roughly 50 heaters, if we hit our target that means we will be able to supply another 300!

Official details:

At approximately 12:20 PM CET on 29 December 2020, an earthquake of magnitude 6.4 Mw hit the Sisak-Moslavina County, Croatia, with an epicenter located in Strašnik, a village 3 km (1.9 mi) west-southwest of Petrinja.

Before this event there were three foreshocks, the strongest of which had a magnitude of 5.2 Mw on the day before. The earthquake was followed by numerous aftershocks, the strongest of which had a magnitude of 4.9 Mw and these continue every day, even now.

Interim damage report: (Provided by State Civil Protection Service)

Sisak County has a population of 175,200, of which 116,000 or 66 percent were directly affected by the earthquake.

Damage was recorded to a total of 35,000 residential buildings, 850 companies, 700 crafts and over 3,000 small farms. In addition, the infrastructure was largely damaged. Out of 56 schools, 9 were completely demolished or irreversibly damaged. Out of 30 sacred buildings, 10 were completely destroyed.

Here are the links to the appeal, both on our website and on GoFundMe.  Reach is key with appeals such as this, so please do share these links wherever possible.

Mobile laundry for Lesvos

Many of you will know that this is one area where we have some experience, having set up laundry’s in the Balkans and in Lesvos on several occasions in the past.

We have been approached by Team Humanity who want to set up a mobile laundry in a container close to the Moria camp next to an established shower facility (also in a container).  Being mobile means that it can be moved if the camps move and despite some refugees being moved to the mainland, Lesvos remains overcrowded with many people, so this could be a really useful asset to the work being done on the island.

We are investigating costs and logistics at the moment and if the project is agreed we will of course pass on more details. Costs will be quite significant because these machines are semi-commercial, and we hope to provide 8 washing, and 8 drying machines.

Truck storage

We have now managed to find space for the trailer and tractor unit on a site in Essex.  We also have several back up locations earmarked and we would like to thank everyone involved who made this happen as well as those who have offered spaces as back up should it be needed.

Possible bulk aid

We have recently been offered just over 22,000 brand new pairs of children’s Crocs in all age ranges from toddler to teenage. (There is an import duty of $5000 to be paid, but we are ‘negotiating’)

These will be very much needed and ideal in Greece in the hot summer months, so we are working with our Greek partners and another EU based NGO to secure this supply and ensure that logistically we can move these and distribute them to the many locations where they are going to be needed, both now and throughout the year.  Again, an update will be posted if this all works out!

Brexit

As we leave the EU, the transportation of goods has taken on its own life…. There are challenges, some of which may become smoother as things become clearer and some challenges will remain, namely surrounding paperwork and regulations.

We are of course one step ahead of the game due to the many convoys that we undertook to Kosovo, regularly taking items in and out of the EU.  This experience is proving valuable, and over the past couple of weeks we have been assisting one or two other UK grassroots organisations who are lacking in this experience.

We are also helping a few of these organisations through a network known as the Group Leaders Group to get items to Calais and we may possibly try a run to Calais in one of our 7.5 tonne trucks soon, to test the ground and our next paperwork expertise for longer journeys hopefully over the coming months.

It does of course remain very difficult to really know where 2021 will take us and how, even if, we can get back to convoys of aid with flying teams to assist with distributions.  For now, any aid is being either shipped in containers or using backloads to get items from the UK to where they are needed.

Please stay as engaged as you can with what we and others are doing to help, and of course we kindly ask that anything you can spare, you do.  This work takes a lot of time, effort and especially money, so if you feel that you can spare anything to help with all of the projects above, please do.

Ongoing appeal to all our volunteers – Aid gathering Collections

There is a big ongoing need for some basic and critical essentials; sleeping bags in their stuff sacks, blankets traditional or knitted, tents that have been checked and are complete and waterproof, and new underwear for all age groups, male and female. All our supporter volunteers could engage with this, and we would like you to do so please if you can. If you manage to collect so many that you have no garage space left, we will endeavour to collect from you or work out the best logistics, but as we don’t have collection points nationally, for much smaller quantities you will need to courier, or parcel deliver to Chas and Bev in Ingatestone. (lockdown rules permitting). Banana boxes please for the blankets and underwear.