When Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 storm, hit the Bahamas, it did immense damage.

More than 70,000 people have been left in need of urgent humanitarian assistance and some 13,000 homes have been severely damaged or destroyed.

Houses, schools and hospitals have collapsed, with Hurricane Dorian one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever to make landfall.

North Cotswolds Rotary sprang into action and organised a store collection outside the Co-op in Bourton-on-the-Water, raising, with gift aid, £450.

The club added money from their emergency reserves and have donated £1000 to help alleviate the situation on the ground.

Rotary clubs around the world have been taking similar action and will be working with local Rotary clubs in the area.

“We were fortunate to have detailed information on the conditions in the Bahamas from Diana and Roger White from the Rotary e-Club of the Caribbean, who are currently in Stow-on-the-Wold and who have been visiting our club,” said North Cotswolds Rotary president John Barber.

“They were able to get first-hand accounts of the destruction on the ground.”

Diana explained that as aid comes in, Rotary in the Bahamas is beginning to move to longer-term strategies in preparation for helping their economies to recover.

“It will take time,” she said, “but that is what Rotary is best at.”

Disaster Aid UK and Ireland are working with local Rotarians to provide immediate shelter, food, and other necessities.

And Rotary’s disaster relief partner ShelterBox has sent a team to the Bahamas to work with Rotary members on the ground to assess damage, determine needs for emergency shelter, and evaluate recovery options.

Another relief initiative has been taken by a former member of the North Cotswolds Rotary, David Rogers from Upper Rissington, who is currently in Florida.

David has been helping to organise urgently needed relief supplies for desperate survivors.

“Working with friends locally, he has helped to raise money to fly in more than 6 tons of food and supplies, including generators, as there is no electricity or running water,” said John Barber.

“Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by Hurricane Dorian.

“They will continue to need help to rebuild their shattered lives, homes and businesses for some considerable time to come.

1Tropical Storm Humberto is now over the Bahamas, and the hurricane season is far from over.”

He thanked Mid Counties Coop for allowing Rotary to collect, and also all those who generously donated.