How To Help Victims Of The Recent Natural Disasters
This post isn’t to talk about climate change, this post is simply to highlight the devastating natural disasters that have affected out planet in the past few weeks and how we can help the people who have suffered as a result.
With everything going on in the world now regarding natural disasters, I feel that it’s only right that a post is dedicated to how we can help the recent hurricane and flooding victims that have been affected across the globe.
Many organisations have rushed to provide aid to people in need and whilst I encourage that you donate as each gift makes a difference, if you are unable to simply sharing donation links and raising awareness helps during times of crisis. Below, I’ve listed key facts and figures about some of the key disasters that are currently occurring and how you can help. Please do be careful when donating online, as unfortunately in times like this people still try to take advantage of others and have set up scam sites. So please check that your payment is made securely (the padlock in the URL on the payment page) and from a reputable site.
FLOODING IN NIGERIA
Nigeria has been victim to many floods in the past. In 2012 Nigeria suffered floods across 30 of its 36 states with hundreds of people dying and two million left homeless.
Help:
Unfortunately, I didn't find any donation links that were trusted but please do continue to use UNICEF to make general donations to Nigeria
Where:
Suleja (Niger State), Victoria Island, Lekki and Ikoyi
Why:
Rainy season hit Nigeria heavily this year and lasted much longer than expected. In combination with faulty drainage systems, flooding caused many buildings to collapse and cut electricity to several homes.
The numbers:
Kano – 12 people killed, 30 hospitalised
100 houses submerged under water
Adamawa state – 23 people killed, 2,500 people displaced
Kogi – 10,000 people displaced as homes are destroyed
MUDSLIDE IN SIERRA LEONE
Where:
The mountain town of Regent, located 16 km from the capital
Why:
The mudslide was triggered by heavy downpours of rain which are common in Sierra Leone, however this year the rainfall was three times more than expected.
Help:
The numbers:
Up to 500 dead, within that figure at least 109 children are among those killed
600 people missing
Bodies left outdoors due to lack of space in the Freetown morgue
HURRICANE HARVEY
Hurricane Harvey is the first hurricane to make a major impact in the United States since 2005 hurricane Wilma. The hurricane has so far caused catastrophic flooding, displacing thousands of people across the country.
Help:
Where:
Windward Island, Suriname, Guyana, Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, Yucatan Peninsula, the southern and eastern United states especially Texas and Louisiana
Why:
Whilst the cause of the storm is largely attributed to climate change due to global warming, urban development has also been suggested to have played a role in furthering the devastation of the hurricane. Urban development has led to up to 25,000 acres of wetlands being lost in Houston (one of the most affected areas) reducing the areas ability to retain water flows which leads to water build up. Additionally the extraction of oil and groundwater from underwater aquifers (porous underground rocks that store water) have created breaks in the ground that are subject to ground collapse.
The numbers:
Texas, US
300,000 people left without electricity
69 fatalities as of September 6th and expected to rise
30,000 displaced
185, 000 homes damaged
9,000 homes destroyed
Aransas County, US
30-40 remain unaccounted for
Houston, US
14 fatalities as of August 29th
25 to 30% of Harris County is submerged
Barbados
Electricity outages in Christ Church, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy and Saint Michael Provinces
Bridges in Saint Andrew and Saint Joseph damaged
Guyana
Several public buildings damaged in
HURRICANE IRMA
Irma has caused unbelieveable amounts of destruction in the past few weeks, you cannot open a newspaper without coming across the devastation that Irma has caused across the Caribbean and United States. Irma is the most intense hurricane recorded in the Atlantic since hurricane Dean in 2007, so it is only to be expected that Irma has disrupted the life of thousands putting many at risk.
Help:
Where:
Cape Verde, Leeward Islands(especially Barbuda, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin and the Virgin Islands), Greater Antilles, Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, Eastern United States (especially Florida)
The numbers:
Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy
Swept away buildings and submerged roads and cars leading to an island wide blackout
4 people killed
50 injured
95% of buildings damaged
60% of buildings completely inhabitable
According to CEDIM a minimum of $950 million worth of damage has been been caused due to destruction by Irma
Sint Maarten (Saint Martin’s Dutch half)
70% of houses demolished or severely damaged causing residents to seek public shelters
2 people dead
23 injured with 11 of those injuries considered serious
Estimated that $1.2 billion is required to restore the destruction
Anguilla
Widespread destruction of homes and schools
90% if roads impassable
$190 million worth in losses has been estimated
Rest of Leeward Islands
8,000 homes left without running water
Trees blown onto roads
Virgin Islands
Destruction to roads and buildings
Puerto Rico
Fishermen nearby to hurricane’s lighting strike burnt
2 people dead
In Loiza, 79 homes destroyed
More than 1 million residents with no access to power
Dominican Republic and Haiti
Bridge connecting both countries destroyed
55, 000 soldiers deployed to help with clean up efforts
2, 721 homes damaged
Mudslides, flooded croplands and damaged infrastructure largely reported across Haiti
Turks and Caicos
Blue Hill neighborhood severely affected
Cuba
39 buildings destroyed
10 deaths
One of the costliest hurricanes to hit Cuba
United states – Florida
31 deaths across the state
730, 000 people without power in Miami Dade county
2.6 million homes without power
No flights
Severe flooding in areas
HURRICANE JOSE
Hurricane Jose, alongside with Irma and Harvey was one of the hurricanes to affect the Caribbean Islands in the past few weeks. Whilst Jose’s damaged has been more contained than the other two hurricanes, it caused irreversible damage to the island of Barbuda destroying 95% of the island.
Help:
Unfortunately I couldn’t find a reputable link for these donations but when I do I will be sure to update the post.
Where:
Bahamas and Bermuda
The numbers:
Destroyed 95% of Bermuda
9 shelters opened, housing 17, 000 people
Although men stayed behind, women and children tried to flee the island
Evacuation ordered from Bahamian islands likely to be affected by the hurricane
