Dear Beautiful People,

1.  Who am I:   

My name is Francesca Von Reinhaart. 

2.  Where am I from and who I am raising funds for ? 

I am from Byron  Bay reaching out to you for your generosity for the people in my home islands (The Savu Islands), where I was born and raised. I lived there until I was 13 years.  These islands are also home to my dearest parents, siblings and their families, my cousins, and other extended  family members and many friends. 

Due to the severely damaging Cyclone Seroja that hit Southern part of Indonesia (The Lesser Sunda Islands) in East Nusa Tenggara province, I humbly would like to ask your help with financial assistance to help The Savunese people (Do Hawu) in The Savu Islands in such emergency situation they are facing.

Since the cyclone hit, we have heard nothing from our family and friends there.  They are totally cut off.  You can imagine how intensely worried we are.  

The Savu Islands (Sabu Islands) were in the eye of Cyclone Seroja. The cyclone itself started in the Savu Sea, located a little North from Darwin.  



Savunese on the islands are now disconnected from the rest of the world. Well, most of them on the islands are cut off from being able to maintain communication with the outside; even amongst themselves back on the islands.

They are suffering from flooding, landslides, and loss of homes. 

I'm unsure how many are injured or died.  But I have been forwarded image of Savunese whose lives were lost the ravaging cyclone.
I have tried to reach out to all possible government departments of the Savu (Sabu Raijua) regency, but even those places are disconnected. 

The Sabu Raijua Regent Office Building itself had been torn off by the storm. I'm unable to reach anyone on the islands since the Cyclone hit them. Therefore, obtaining further info in better detail of report or more images on the much-ravaged condition is currently difficult. 

However, some Savunese did manage to share some images to social media platforms before they lost reception/connection. I will keep updating more here for any further news received from the islands as soon as I received them.

There is nothing much I can do from afar. I can only reach out to ask your generous hearts to help them. They can use whatever amount you donate for them to meet whatever they may need to get, be it food, medicine, etc. 

3.  What the funds will be used for:  and for whom?   Whatever amount raised will go to whoever I can reach out to help on The Savu Islands.  For food, medicine and shelter. 

I am not only wishing to help my own family there, I am hoping to help whoever I can reach that are in much need for urgent financial assistance there.

The full amount of all donations we get will directly be sent to Savu Island as soon as I am able to make contact with family members from the islands who will be able to help deliver donation directly to the  individuals or families whom are in urgent need for financial assistance.  Previously when I have helped people there I have sent to my sister - a good friend who is a school teacher and vice principal - she is a very ethical and honest person who has been the best person to do this work and I hope to be in touch with her as soon as possible.  ...   The donations will not go through any government bodies or be delivered to any government authorities as we do not fully trust that it will get to the people needed.

We aim to reach  the Savunese people directly whom are in much need of immediate help.

4.  How the funds will be sent:  So donations will be sent from Australia  directly to a bank account of Savu Islander to be given immediately  to help most needed victims.  This is my sister -Diana Bunga - who will be responsible for distributing the funds.  She will be able to pass funds directly to the parents of the children who are suffering - and to those in her neighbourhood who are in need.  



The money we are raising will be for food, shelter, and medicines where needed.   As soon as we are in touch I will update below.  

Diana speak reasonably good English, and I chose her to be the person helping me, due to her experience in working with locals and foreigners. She is  educated with degrees and has teaching experiences.  Diana still teaches.

Up until today (9th of April) as I'm updating this story, I still am unable to make contact with any relatives and neither heard or read any news about them or how they are after the Cyclone. 

I would also like to update you,  that last night, I came across infomation posted and discuss on social media platforms, that The Savu Islands are not being listed as one of the most hit regency in the Nusa Tenggara Province.

Which means that there is no government donation and aid being currently allocated. The Savu Islands local government (Regent Office) is badly damaged by the cyclone. It may be due to this issue that prevents local government people from listing The Savu Islands to be included as one of the regency hit by Cyclone Seroja.




I feel heavy doing this, reaching out and asking for your generosity to help my loved ones back on the islands.  Any amount you donate means so much in coming together and support me, so together we can help them through this very urgent and extremely difficult time for my Savunese people back home.

♥️♥️

And on behalf of my dearest Savunese people, I would like to thank you very much in advance. 

♥️♥️♥️♥️
Blessings and thank you abundantly. I will do my best to keep you update here.

Francesca Von Reinhaart
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