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Humanitarian Relief 2022
Written by Ismail Weiliang, The Climatebender
ISMAIL WEILIANG
The Climatebender
WORLD WATER DAY 2022
Today marks World Water Day, a day that calls upon each and every one of us to take action on the global water crisis - 2 billion people living without access to safe drinking water - to perhaps achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6): Water and sanitation for all by 2030.
In Singapore, we are blessed with clean drinking water from the tap, whereas the lack of accessibility to water for refugees can be a grave matter of life and death. In my travels, I was exposed to shocking inequality and drinking water standards. Perhaps, we have received in greater measure than we possibly need and therefore we should give.
Help deliver clean drinking water to refugees overseas
and we deliver free milk tea or coffee right to your doorstep :)
HUMANITARIAN RELIEF 2022
I founded The Waterbender Sg, a registered non-profit organisation that crowdfunds to deliver humanitarian relief for those in need. Last year, we raised close to SGD$35,000 in 1 month to provide clean drinking water to around 3,000 refugees and poor villagers in need. This year, we partner with registered organisations in Singapore (Singapore Red Cross, Wateroam, Global Ehsan Relief, Food for Change Singapore) to deliver clean drinking water to refugees overseas in Ukraine, Myanmar, Yemen and Gaza. We deliver free milk tea or coffee to those who contribute generously.
CONFLICT IN UKRAINE
The Waterbender Sg partners with Singapore Red Cross to deliver relief supplies such as clean drinking water, hygiene kits, family kits and household kids to refugees of Ukraine. Tensions in Ukraine have been high for the last eight years and escalated to an outright conflict on 24 February 2022. An estimated 3 million people in the country rely on humanitarian aid and 850,000 are displaced. Around 30 percent of the people in need are elderly. The number of internally displaced persons and humanitarian needs is expected to increase massively as the conflict continues to intensify. In response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) are working through the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in their ongoing response. More funds are required to aid the expected massive humanitarian operations.
WATER CRISIS IN MYANMAR
The Waterbender Sg partners with Wateroam to deliver clean drinking water to refugees in Myanmar. 10 million people lack access to clean water in Myanmar. Amongst them, refugee populations are the most vulnerable group of all. Internally displaced personnel (IDPs) fall victim to water-borne illnesses, extreme dehydration and death. Your contribution will support our campaign to provide a clean, safe and stable supply of drinking water for those who need it most in the world. Together with Wateroam, we are fund-raising to provide immediate relief for more than 68,000 refugees with emergency water filters. These relief items will provide clean drinking water. Proceeds will also go into the hiring of local indigenous coordinators who will help to distribute the filters, train and educate the local population and conduct monitoring and data collection work. $470 SGD will help provide clean drinking water to 100-200 people for 2 years through water filtration.
YEMEN EMERGENCY APPEAL
The Waterbender Sg partners with Global Ehsan Relief to deliver clean drinking water to refugees in Yemen. Half of Yemen's population - 15 million - people lack access to clean water. The poorest country in the Middle east region is in dire need of assistance. During this time of upheaval and uncertainty, 24 million people in Yemen are living in fear. 4 people out of every 5 need help. The war-torn country is facing an economic breakdown as they battle the pandemic and impacts of the global recession. Yemenis desperately need help. Together with Global Ehsan Relief, we need your support by raising funds for clean water to meet their most basic needs. We hope to restore livelihoods in all districts across Yemen. $500 SGD will help provide a year worth of water supply with a water tanker.
URGENT NEED IN GAZA
The Waterbender Sg partners with Food for Change Singapore to deliver clean drinking water to refugees in Gaza. The conflict in Gaza has destroyed the region, disrupting one of the most basic needs of survival - water. Today, less than 50% of households have access to a clean water supply, placing over 1 million people at risk. Water filtration systems are broken, spreading raw sewage and transferring bacteria and disease. The only way to obtain clean water is through an expensive water desalination system, which is not feasible for the poverty-stricken community. With Food for Change Singapore, we provide a long-term, sustainable solution that could provide 24-hour access not only to residents but to critical infrastructure such as hospitals and schools. $360 SGD will help provide a year worth of water supply with a water desalination plant.
CONSISTENCY
Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence and thus I hope that this project may be done consistently so that our small efforts may bear fruits for the vulnerable to benefit. It will be done every year in the month of Ramadan where Muslims fast from water, where we experience the thirst of the needy. We are given the reminder that there is so much more to be grateful for.
Authors:
Ismail Weiliang is a climate resilience consultant with over half a decade of experience and specialises in flood risk advisory for Asia. His work involves advising governments and development banks on strategies to transform climate risks into resilience. He also founded “The Climatebender” a non-profit organisation that provides humanitarian relief to communities vulnerable to the climate crisis.
©2021 The Climatebender