shelterbox http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/ en-GB Fri, 20 Jul 2012 20:33:24 +0200 http://www.typepad.com/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Shelterboxhttp://feedburner.google.com ShelterBox finds need for shelter in Russia http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/3NeWzrtvwwU/shelterbox-finds-need-for-shelter-in-russia.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/07/shelterbox-finds-need-for-shelter-in-russia.html Dedzhenie is an elderly lady who lives in Nizhnebakanskaya, a small village near Krymsk in southern Russia. When the rain did not stop, water levels rose trapping her in her home. She feared for her life until a young man saw her distressed. He broke through one of her windows and saved her dragging her out. Luckily she has her life but with her home damaged from the waters pouring into her house, she now has nowhere to live. This is just one of many stories the ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) has heard from displaced families whilst assessing the need... Dedzhenie is an elderly lady who lives in Nizhnebakanskaya, a small village near Krymsk in southern Russia. When the rain did not stop, water levels rose trapping her in her home. She feared for her life until a young man saw her distressed. He broke through one of her windows and saved her dragging her out. Luckily she has her life but with her home damaged from the waters pouring into her house, she now has nowhere to live. 

This is just one of many stories the ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) has heard from displaced families whilst assessing the need for aid in the Krasnodar region, following the worst floods the world's largest country has ever experienced. 

Reports say Krymsk and the surrounding area are the worst affected, where many people were caught unaware of waters pouring into their homes in the middle of the night. 

The deputy mayor of Dedzhenie's village has requested emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for 43 families who have had their homes marred by the floodwaters. ShelterBoxes will enable them to live in dignity as they rebuild their houses. 

ShelterBox always needs local partners to bring families shelter, warmth and dignity in the quickest and most effective way. The SRT has been working closely with Krasnodar Rotary Club, which has been invaluable in assisting with needs assessments, transportation, contacts and logistics. 

'Rebuild their lives'

Russian national disaster management agency EMERCOM and community based search and rescue organisation Kuban Spas have also been central to ShelterBox's response.

'ShelterBox will be working with the community and government agencies in Russia to help facilitate the rebuilding of the communities surrounding Krymsk affected by the devastating floodwaters,' said SRT member Andrew Clouting (AU). 

'The works planned will help these families rebuild their lives and hopefully allow them to move forward with their lives.' 

SRT member Eva Doerr (DE) is on her first deployment: 

'Today was the first day for me of actually seeing and meeting families that have lost everything due to a disaster. Hearing the individual stories of the people affected, like the one of Dedzhenie, makes me realize the actual impact ShelterBox has on their lives. 

Rotarians first point of contact

'This is the first time ShelterBox has deployed to Russia. The Rotary Club of Krasnodar has been a great help for us. Their preparations made our progress today possible.' 

Rotarians are often ShelterBox's first point of contact on the ground following a disaster and provide vital assistance to Response Teams. Read more about ShelterBox's Project Partnership with Rotary here

]]> Steve Pickering Fri, 20 Jul 2012 20:33:24 +0200 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/07/shelterbox-finds-need-for-shelter-in-russia.html ShelterBoxes en route to flood survivors in Russia http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/iFT7gs35whA/shelterboxes-en-route-to-flood-survivors-in-russia.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/07/shelterboxes-en-route-to-flood-survivors-in-russia.html Torrential rains caused flash floods to sweep across southern Russia, forcing many families to leave their homes and take refuge in trees or on rooftops. As much as 280 millimetres of water fell on parts of the Krasnodar region in one night, the meteorological service reported. Thousands of homes in the area have been shown completely submerged on Russian TV. Further reports say that at least 171 people have lost their lives, many being asleep at the time of the disaster. 1,000 families (3,500 people) are considered to be the worst affected by the floods, according to the assessment conducted... Torrential rains caused flash floods to sweep across southern Russia, forcing many families to leave their homes and take refuge in trees or on rooftops.

As much as 280 millimetres of water fell on parts of the Krasnodar region in one night, the meteorological service reported.

Thousands of homes in the area have been shown completely submerged on Russian TV. Further reports say that at least 171 people have lost their lives, many being asleep at the time of the disaster.  

1,000 families (3,500 people) are considered to be the worst affected by the floods, according to the assessment conducted by the Russian Red Cross.  

Information from local Rotarians report that 400 houses are completely destroyed and a further 11,000 homes are damaged. They will not be rebuilt quickly. In response to a direct request for 150 ShelterBoxes and 50 tents, ShelterBox is deploying aResponse Team to conduct a final assessment and oversee distribution.

'Help families in need'

ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) member Eva Doerr (DE) is heading on her first deployment with experienced team leader Andrew Clouting (AU):

'It is a nice feeling to know that I now get the chance to help families in need that have been affected by the flooding in southern Russia. Andrew and I will be flying into Krasnodar, a region close to the most affected areas, in order to get a picture of the situation and assess how far ShelterBox can help those in need.'

The 150 ShelterBoxes have been ear-marked to be given to families whose home is badly damaged and uninhabitable, but not destroyed, ensuring them security of their property and enabling to commence repair work and start rebuilding their lives.

'Transparent and trustworthy'

There are plans for the 50 tents to be distributed to volunteers who are engaged in a project to initially clear debris from a river and subsequently work on flood prevention measures. By donating these tents, ShelterBox is allowing some of these volunteers to stay on the ground for longer, rather than travel back and forth, enabling the work to be completed quicker.

'As a Speaker for the German ShelterBox Affiliate I am aware of how much it takes to fund one ShelterBox,' said Eva. 'As an SRT member I am now responsible for delivering your commitment and engagement. That is what makes ShelterBox special – transparent and trustworthy. I am excited about doing the most for the most.'

 

]]> Steve Pickering Mon, 16 Jul 2012 22:44:36 +0200 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/07/shelterboxes-en-route-to-flood-survivors-in-russia.html Disaster preparedness at ShelterBox http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/l0uZygid7WY/disaster-preparedness-at-shelterbox.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/07/disaster-preparedness-at-shelterbox.html ShelterBox prides itself in its rapid delivery of emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies to families in need after a disaster strikes. However to do this, the international disaster relief charity must be prepared. Nobody can predict when or where the next disaster will hit. Disaster preparedness boosts ShelterBox's capacity to respond more efficiently and quickly to disasters when they happen around the world. 'A ShelterBox does not just get sent out immediately when a disaster happens, it's not that easy,' said ShelterBox Operations Manager Alf Evans. 'A lot of groundwork has to happen for a deployment to run smoothly and... ShelterBox prides itself in its rapid delivery of emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies to families in need after a disaster strikes. However to do this, the international disaster relief charity must be prepared. 

Nobody can predict when or where the next disaster will hit. Disaster preparedness boosts ShelterBox's capacity to respond more efficiently and quickly to disasters when they happen around the world. 

'A ShelterBox does not just get sent out immediately when a disaster happens, it's not that easy,' said ShelterBox Operations Manager Alf Evans. 'A lot of groundwork has to happen for a deployment to run smoothly and efficiently for emergency shelter to reach families made homeless by disaster.' 

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That is exactly what the ShelterBox Operations team do. There could be no active deployments but each member will still be busy with research, including building partnerships with other aid agencies, developing relationships with local authorities in other countries, and investigating locations for prepositioning stock. Without this groundwork, ShelterBox would not be able to deliver humanitarian aid as quickly and successfully as it does, bringing shelter, warmth and dignity to displaced families when they need it the most. 


Quicker 

'There are currently 9,061 ShelterBoxes prepositioned across 18 different countries, enabling us to respond immediately to a disaster,' said Alf. 'It's so much quicker to have boxes in the country where the disaster has happened or the country next door as opposed to sending them from headquarters in UK.' 

It is not just the distance that allows ShelterBox to respond to disasters more efficiently. It is also space. By prepositioning ShelterBoxes around the world, more space becomes available at the warehouse at headquarters where the boxes are packed. Therefore as pre-positioned boxes are used, volunteers can be packing more boxes at headquarters, increasing ShelterBox's capacity to respond to disasters. 

This is what happened during ShelterBox's response to the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti in January 2010, causing an estimated 230,000 people to lose their lives and making a further 1.5 million homeless. 

Respond immediately 

ShelterBox was able to respond immediately by using prepositioned boxes from around the world. They were put to immediate use as large-scale distribution began with 7,000 ShelterBoxes delivered to the most affected areas in the first month. At the same time, volunteers were packing more boxes at headquarters to be sent. 

Over 28,000 ShelterBoxes in total were sent to the Caribbean country; more than the charity has ever sent out before in one year let alone to one country. This is a good example of how quickly and efficiently ShelterBox works when responding to a disaster, even to a disaster of this scale, thanks to disaster preparedness. 

'We have also just secured a 405 hanger at Newquay (Cornwall, UK) airport that will be able to store 6,000 boxes and 10,000 tents,' said ShelterBox's Warehouse and Logistics Manager Shane Revill. 'And we have also become part of the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) network, which will enable us to store our aid in their warehouses across five continents.' 

Your help 

ShelterBox's goal is to provide emergency shelter for 50,000 people every year. Without disaster preparedness, ShelterBox would not be able to achieve this, and without your help, disaster preparedness would not be possible. You can help ShelterBox prepare and make a difference to families who have lost everything in a disaster in advance, by donating to the ShelterBox Disaster Fund that gives the charity the funds to prepare for disasters.    

]]> Steve Pickering Thu, 05 Jul 2012 19:43:29 +0200 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/07/disaster-preparedness-at-shelterbox.html ShelterBox goes to South Sudan http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/psDJWnC7OIE/shelterbox-goes-to-south-sudan.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/06/shelterbox-goes-to-south-sudan.html A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) is travelling to South Sudan on 29 June to discuss the distribution of emergency shelter with other aid agencies, in response to continuing conflict in the African country. Sudan split into two countries in July 2011 after the people of the south voted for independence. However there are still unresolved issues between Sudan's Khartoum and South Sudan's Juba, including disputes over the border around Abyei; and contestation over oil-rich areas. People have therefore become displaced from their homes. Not only this but people from the south who had been living further north due to displacement...

A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) is travelling to South Sudan on 29 June to discuss the distribution of emergency shelter with other aid agencies, in response to continuing conflict in the African country. 

Sudan split into two countries in July 2011 after the people of the south voted for independence. However there are still unresolved issues between Sudan's Khartoum and South Sudan's Juba, including disputes over the border around Abyei; and contestation over oil-rich areas. People have therefore become displaced from their homes. 

Not only this but people from the south who had been living further north due to displacement from more than 50 years of civil war are now being forced to return to South Sudan, from what have been their homes for decades. They have nowhere to go. ShelterBox is responding to fill this void and working towards bringing the displaced families shelter and dignity. 

SRT members Tom Lay (UK) and Tom Dingwall (UK) will be meeting with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) to coordinate a tent distribution plan.

 

Collaboration


Tom Lay says that collaboration is key in this response: 

'Given the complexity of the situation in South Sudan and the ever-changing developments in this ongoing crisis it is crucial that ShelterBox liaises with other actors in the humanitarian community. We must ensure that any ShelterBox response targets the people in most need efficiently, safely and in line with the wider humanitarian response strategy. 

'Multi-agency collaboration allows resources to be consolidated. This results in a more financially economical distribution of aid as organisations are accountable to each other as well as to their donors. The more support we can receive from other organisations means we can spend a greater percentage of each donation directly on the aid allowing us to provide more families with shelter.'

 

58,000 people are currently living in Yida, a refugee camp in Unity State that is close to the contested border, and approximately 1,000 more arrive each day. ShelterBox disaster relief tents are en route to the affected areas.

 

]]> Steve Pickering Sat, 30 Jun 2012 19:48:33 +0200 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/06/shelterbox-goes-to-south-sudan.html ShelterBox responds to mudslides in Uganda http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/1i2ZVnJi440/shelterbox-responds-to-mudslides-in-uganda-.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/06/shelterbox-responds-to-mudslides-in-uganda-.html Up to 400,000 people may require emergency shelter in Uganda's mountainous east due to continuing heavy rains and mudslides that could force them to flee their homes. A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) is en route to assess the situation. Reports say the worst affected area is Bumwalukani Sub County in the Bududa district, where two villages, Namaaga and Bunakasala, have been buried by a mudslide that hit on 25 June. More than 100 people are missing and a further 30 have lost their lives. The Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) has been part of the rescue efforts along with the... Up to 400,000 people may require emergency shelter in Uganda's mountainous east due to continuing heavy rains and mudslides that could force them to flee their homes. A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) is en route to assess the situation. 

Reports say the worst affected area is Bumwalukani Sub County in the Bududa district, where two villages, Namaaga and Bunakasala, have been buried by a mudslide that hit on 25 June. More than 100 people are missing and a further 30 have lost their lives. 

The Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) has been part of the rescue efforts along with the local government. Their Secretary General Michael Richard Nataka has stated in reports that as the rain intensifies, hundreds of thousands of families in the region could leave their homes due to the fear of further mudslides. 

'Three villages have been flattened in the Bumwalukani parish on the slopes of Mount Elgon,' David Wakikona, a national member of parliament, told Reuters on 25 June. 'The areas around Bududa district have been experiencing heavy rains for days now and I am told the landslides started around midday today and that they're still going on and some villagers who survived the early slides are fleeing.’ 

SRT members David Webber (UK) and Fiona McElroy (UK) will be travelling to the African country to meet with local officials and other aid agencies to assess the need for humanitarian aid. 

Mudslides are frequent in eastern Uganda. ShelterBox deployed to Uganda in March 2010, where 200 ShelterBoxes were delivered to mudslide survivors.    

]]> Steve Pickering Sat, 30 Jun 2012 15:49:01 +0200 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/06/shelterbox-responds-to-mudslides-in-uganda-.html ShelterBox at International Development Forum http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/u5_SwG-oBRc/shelterbox-at-international-development-forum.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/06/shelterbox-at-international-development-forum.html ShelterBox is one of the global non-governmental organisations invited to the Aid and International Development Forum (AIDF) at the Walter E Washington Convention Centre in Washington, USA. The two-day event that began on 6 June is the world's leading forum for the humanitarian aid, relief and development sectors that facilitates partnerships, addresses global humanitarian issues and encourages the sharing of expertise. 'AIDF is an important event which allows aid professionals to not only see and experience new products and solutions for the field but also provides a platform for sharing best practice and developing networks,' said ShelterBox's Chief Operating Officer... ShelterBox is one of the global non-governmental organisations invited to the Aid and International Development Forum (AIDF) at the Walter E Washington Convention Centre in Washington, USA. 

The two-day event that began on 6 June is the world's leading forum for the humanitarian aid, relief and development sectors that facilitates partnerships, addresses global humanitarian issues and encourages the sharing of expertise. 

'AIDF is an important event which allows aid professionals to not only see and experience new products and solutions for the field but also provides a platform for sharing best practice and developing networks,' said ShelterBox's Chief Operating Officer John Leach. 

'This is the second year running ShelterBox has attended the event and we have taken our partnership one step further with AIDF with our Expert Advisor status, enabling us to assist in defining a conference agenda that addresses the challenges aid agencies face today.' 

Alf Evans, ShelterBox Operations Manager, has given two talks at the event, the first being on 'Civil Society Working in Harmony with the Military'; and the second was a workshop session on 'Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness' that focused on working to prevent hazards and lessen the impact of disasters by planning ahead more efficiently. 

'It's great being here having the opportunity to talk about these important topics and giving examples of how effectively ShelterBox has worked with the military in the past on deployments,' commented Alf. 

'Fantastic opportunity'

'It's also been a fantastic opportunity to share with others in the field the importance of disaster preparedness and how we put in a lot of work to prepare for disasters around the world, including prepositioning stock.' 

ShelterBox USA's representatives Emily Sperling, Mark Dyer and Wayne Chiles have been accompanying Alf in manning the ShelterBox stand at the event. 

Sula Bruce is AIDF's Project Director: 'We are delighted to be partnering with ShelterBox again this year and are excited about their input into the conference programme. The sessions they are involved in, particularly ‘Civil Society Working in Harmony with the Military’ are incredibly topical given the shifting nature of international relief and demonstrate the positive nature of such partnerships.'    

]]> Steve Pickering Sun, 10 Jun 2012 10:09:38 +0200 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/06/shelterbox-at-international-development-forum.html Homes and workplaces in ruins in northern Italy http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/YYj5NVHomsA/homes-and-workplaces-in-ruins-in-northern-italy.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/06/homes-and-workplaces-in-ruins-in-northern-italy.html A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) has been delivering emergency shelter to families in and around Modena who have been made homeless by a recent series of earthquakes in northern Italy. Home to luxury sport car companies Ferrari and Maserati, the heavily industrial Emilia Romagna region is also famous for its balsamic vinegar works, vineyards, fine food and precision engineering. As such, many of the population not only have been forced from their homes but also from their workplaces as so many buildings are in ruins. It was Danny Whear's (UK) first deployment as an SRT volunteer and he speaks about...

A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) has been delivering emergency shelter to families in and around Modena who have been made homeless by a recent series of earthquakes in northern Italy. 

Home to luxury sport car companies Ferrari and Maserati, the heavily industrial Emilia Romagna region is also famous for its balsamic vinegar works, vineyards, fine food and precision engineering. As such, many of the population not only have been forced from their homes but also from their workplaces as so many buildings are in ruins. 

It was Danny Whear's (UK) first deployment as an SRT volunteer and he speaks about one of the worst-hit towns in the region: 'It was a strange sight in Cavezzo as all of the traditional buildings had been reduced to piles of rubble by the tremors but all of the modern buildings were still standing. What you couldn't see though was that everything inside was structurally destroyed, so in fact around 60 per cent of the buildings in the central district have been affected and whole communities have been relocated.'

 

Collaboratively

The SRT has been working collaboratively with volunteers from ShelterBox Italy Center affiliate, Rotaractors from Modena, Mirandola, Carpi and Bologna, and the national Civil Protection agency to assess the need and distribute the much-needed tents. 

Shelter, warmth and dignity has been brought to over one hundred displaced families with a total of 128 disaster relief tents distributed to those most in need in the towns of Medolla, Concordia, Cavezzo and San Felice. 

'Our tent was quite easy to put up and is very comfortable with its excellent ventilation,' said one beneficiary at the camp in San Felice. 'We hadn't heard of ShelterBox until recently when they responded to the first earthquake that struck here and we are all impressed with the work that they do and have done here. We all feel proud to have received a tent and are very happy to be living in one, as we can be with our families whilst our homes begin to be reconstructed.'

Aftershocks continue

The first earthquake hit close to Modena on 20 May measuring 6.0-magnitude. A second 5.8-magnitude quake struck the same area on 29 May, killing at least 16 people and bringing down buildings already damaged from the first one. Reports say aftershocks continue to spread fear among the local residents. 

View more photos from the deployment on ShelterBox's Flickr page.    

 

 

]]> Steve Pickering Wed, 06 Jun 2012 10:17:00 +0200 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/06/homes-and-workplaces-in-ruins-in-northern-italy.html ShelterBox brings shelter to Italy's quake survivors http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/7FWaUmi5fkc/shelterbox-brings-shelter-to-italys-quake-survivors.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/05/shelterbox-brings-shelter-to-italys-quake-survivors.html A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck northern Italy on 29 May killing over 15 people and bringing down buildings near the city of Modena. Reports say there is significant damage to infrastructure in the Emilia Romagna region and the tremor was felt in the cities of Bologna, Ferrar, Verona and Mantua. A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) has been delivering emergency shelter to families displaced by the 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck the same area on 20 May. ShelterBox rapidly responded by sending a UK-based Response Team in a van with disaster relief tents. They drove over 4000 kilometres to San Felice - one... A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck northern Italy on 29 May killing over 15 people and bringing down buildings near the city of Modena. 

Reports say there is significant damage to infrastructure in the Emilia Romagna region and the tremor was felt in the cities of Bologna, Ferrar, Verona and Mantua. 

A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) has been delivering emergency shelter to families displaced by the 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck the same area on 20 May. 

ShelterBox rapidly responded by sending a UK-based Response Team in a van with disaster relief tents. They drove over 4000 kilometres to San Felice - one of the worst affected towns. 

'Invaluable help'

'Yes it was a long drive but we were able to bring the aid into the disaster hit country quicker, as opposed to flying it in and waiting for the boxes to clear customs,' said SRT member Graham Higginson (UK). 'We drove directly to San Felice to meet with the ShelterBox Italy Center affiliate, who offered us invaluable help by acting as our translators and guides.' 

The SRT carried out site assessments, set up a camp and moved displaced families into the temporary shelter all within 24 hours of arriving. 

'Our fleetness of foot was helped by those who we worked with, including the local authorities who assisted us with ShelterBox allocation, ensuring the aid went to those families with most need,' said SRT member James Edgerley (UK). 'Being my first deployment it was great to see first-hand the difference the tents have made to these families lives. I feel privileged to be part of such a great organisation that brings shelter, warmth and dignity to families across the world who have been made homeless by disaster.' 

ShelterBox Operations are monitoring the situation following today's quake and stand ready to respond.   

]]> Steve Pickering Tue, 29 May 2012 18:16:31 +0200 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/05/shelterbox-brings-shelter-to-italys-quake-survivors.html ShelterBox at Rotary International Convention http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/R77ZHiGM-LU/shelterbox-at-rotary-international-convention.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/05/shelterbox-at-rotary-international-convention.html ShelterBox representatives from UK, Denmark, Germany, Philippines, USA, Australia, Indonesia and Belgium are in Thailand at the Rotary International (RI) Convention in Bangkok manning the ShelterBox stand. This is the first Convention since Rotary made ShelterBox their first project partner: ‘We Rotarians pride ourselves on being the first to arrive when help is needed – and the last to leave,' said RI President Kalyan Banerjee at the opening plenary session. 'By partnering with ShelterBox we’ll be able to do even more.’ Rotarians gather at the annual conference to celebrate past accomplishments and future friendships. Julien Rodolphe Fils Debrosse is a...

ShelterBox representatives from UK, Denmark, Germany, Philippines, USA, Australia, Indonesia and Belgium are in Thailand at the Rotary International (RI) Convention in Bangkok manning the ShelterBox stand. 

This is the first Convention since Rotary made ShelterBox their first project partner: 

‘We Rotarians pride ourselves on being the first to arrive when help is needed – and the last to leave,' said RI President Kalyan Banerjee at the opening plenary session. 'By partnering with ShelterBox we’ll be able to do even more.’ 

Rotarians gather at the annual conference to celebrate past accomplishments and future friendships. 

Julien Rodolphe Fils Debrosse is a Rotarian from Haiti. He sought out the ShelterBox team to give his thanks for all of the aid that had been delivered following the earthquake of January 2010. Working for the American Red Cross Julien manages healthcare programmes and has seen the difference that ShelterBox equipment continues to make two and half years after the disaster. 

Many other Rotarians who have assisted with the delivery of ShelterBoxes following disasters in countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Madagascar came to meet Founder Tom Henderson and share their stories.

 

'Humbling experience'


‘Every Rotary convention I attend fills me with pride at the capacity Rotary has to make such a difference in every corner of the world,’ said Tom. ‘Meeting Rotarians from every walk of life who help us to make a difference is a humbling experience – from those who have raised funds to donate boxes; those who have assisted their fellow country men following a disaster by assisting ShelterBox with logistics and delivery of aid; to those who give their free time, week in week out, to talk to schools, scout groups, Rotary clubs and the general public to help raise awareness of ShleterBox. 

‘It is particularly poignant being in Thailand where Rotarians assisted us in delivering urgently needed aid for nearly 1,500 families following the devastating floods the country experienced in October last year.’

Some Rotarians also celebrated the Project Partnership. Jim Davis is a Rotarian from RC Goolwa, District 9520. He decided to help make a splash throughout the House of Friendship, having brought his Superman outfit with him from Australia. He super-powered his way around the convention carrying a ShelterBox and helping to raise awareness of the project.

 

]]> Steve Pickering Tue, 08 May 2012 18:51:11 +0200 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/05/shelterbox-at-rotary-international-convention.html ShelterBox praised by Republic of Congo minister http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/FzHy6sNH_2Y/shelterbox-praised-by-republic-of-congo-minister.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/05/shelterbox-praised-by-republic-of-congo-minister.html The Minister of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Action and Solidarity in the Republic of Congo, Madame Raoul, has praised ShelterBox for its actions in the country following the industrial accident on 4 March. 'In the name of the Congolese government I would personally like to thank you and praise ShelterBox for its work to help our community. 'I am delighted at the capability of the ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) members to operate swiftly and with dedication in helping the people of Brazzaville.' Response Teams have been distributing tents to families who lost their homes in the explosion over the past two... The Minister of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Action and Solidarity in the Republic of Congo, Madame Raoul, has praised ShelterBox for its actions in the country following the industrial accident on 4 March. 

'In the name of the Congolese government I would personally like to thank you and praise ShelterBox for its work to help our community. 

'I am delighted at the capability of the ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) members to operate swiftly and with dedication in helping the people of Brazzaville.' 

Response Teams have been distributing tents to families who lost their homes in the explosion over the past two months. Marina Isso's house was uninhabitable. She received a tent and is delighted to sleep indoors again. 

'We live right next to the site of the explosion, said Marina. 'Our house was completely destroyed and we were unable to live there.' 

'Had to sleep outside'

'My daughter has had a baby and she can't leave hospital until we had somewhere to live. Since the explosion I have had to sleep outside.' 

Marina is a seamstress and the explosion meant that she could not work or feed her family. 

'I could see my sewing machine inside my house. It was broken though I knew I could fix it but the soldiers wouldn't let me into the house in case there were unexploded weapons. As soon as it was safe to go in it was stolen.

'The soldiers are still getting rid of mines at the base and this scares my children but they will all come back as soon as the soldiers have finished.' 

When members of the SRT visited Marina again they decided to make a personal donation to buy her a replacement sewing machine. Now with her tent and new sewing machine she can feed her family once more.

'Life can start again'

'I am very happy with the gift that ShelterBox gave to me. Now my life can start again.' 

ShelterBox has been working in collaboration with Brazzaville Rotary, the Congolese Red Cross, the French Red Cross, SDV Africa and Total, to distribute tents on a large-scale to families in need in the quartiers close to the city. 

ShelterBox Response Team member Dave Ray (UK) said:

'In many parts of the quartiers there is little left standing. Up to now we've been distributing relief tents street by street but the involvement of these partners will allow us to help families in the whole area in one day. 

'We have a team of nearly 50 people from Rotary and the Croix Rouge helping to put up tents and that means we can help a lot of families.'     

]]> Steve Pickering Thu, 03 May 2012 18:21:59 +0200 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/05/shelterbox-praised-by-republic-of-congo-minister.html ShelterBox tents improve living conditions in Congo http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/cVLkuD8naXc/shelterbox-tents-improve-living-conditions-in-congo.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/04/shelterbox-tents-improve-living-conditions-in-congo.html Families in the Republic of the Congo's capital Brazzaville are still facing very difficult living conditions after the explosion at the Mpila army base on 8 March. Dave Ray (UK) is team leader of the ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) operating in the city and he says there are hundreds of families that need help in the areas closest to the site of the explosion: 'With the help and local knowledge of the Brazzaville Rotary clubs we are working street by street to assess all the houses in the quarters closest to the blast. 'In areas like Talangai and parts of... Families in the Republic of the Congo's capital Brazzaville are still facing very difficult living conditions after the explosion at the Mpila army base on 8 March. 

Dave Ray (UK) is team leader of the ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) operating in the city and he says there are hundreds of families that need help in the areas closest to the site of the explosion: 

'With the help and local knowledge of the Brazzaville Rotary clubs we are working street by street to assess all the houses in the quarters closest to the blast. 

'In areas like Talangai and parts of Ouenze there is almost nothing left standing yet we are seeing families with children living amongst the ruins.' 

ShelterBox has delivered 306 tents to date in the quarters to families in need and expects to deliver many more, bringing shelter, warmth and dignity to thousands.

'Family brought together' 

'In one street we met a young hairdresser,' said SRT volunteer Marie Mariotte (FR). 'She is a 35-year old grandmother living with her children and grandchildren in a two metre by three metre shack after her house was destroyed. One daughter has just had an operation and there is a new baby too. Now she has a ShelterBox tent so the family can be brought back together again.' 

The Response Team has had outstanding support from the local Rotary clubs. Nestor Oyoukou is a local Rotarian who has been helping the team distribute tents in the quarters: 

'My family has suffered from the explosion in Mpila as we live in this quarter of the city. I was deeply moved by the support I received from my dear Rotary friends and it urged me to show my personal commitment to our local badly hurt community by working directly with ShelterBox.'     

]]> Steve Pickering Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:00:01 +0200 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/04/shelterbox-tents-improve-living-conditions-in-congo.html ShelterBox brings smiles to flooded Fiji http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/hw01E3y0DY4/shelterbox-brings-smiles-to-flooded-fiji.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/04/shelterbox-brings-smiles-to-flooded-fiji.html Flooded roads and the hot tropical weather have not stopped the Response Team in Fiji from distributing ShelterBoxes to the most vulnerable families in the most remote villages. Saule and Usenia Qialevu and their three children had their home destroyed by the recent flooding in the village of Matavouvou near the country's capital Nadi. They are now living in a ShelterBox tent close to their house so they have somewhere to live as they begin to reconstruct their home. ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) member Lyndon Tamblyn (NZ) has been distributing the aid in the South Pacific island with help from... Flooded roads and the hot tropical weather have not stopped the Response Team in Fiji from distributing ShelterBoxes to the most vulnerable families in the most remote villages. 

Saule and Usenia Qialevu and their three children had their home destroyed by the recent flooding in the village of Matavouvou near the country's capital Nadi. They are now living in a ShelterBox tent close to their house so they have somewhere to live as they begin to reconstruct their home. 

ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) member Lyndon Tamblyn (NZ) has been distributing the aid in the South Pacific island with help from local Rotarians: 

'Saule and Usenia were one of many families whose homes were utterly devastated by the heavy downpours. They were very thankful towards ShelterBox and Rotary when we gave them a box. Usenia was humbled by the tent and the contents of the ShelterBox that will really make a difference to them as a family.' 

'The ability to give this truly deserving family dignity, hope and essential items is a real privilege,' said SRT member Sally Fletcher (NZ). 

Etatoki village in western Fiji was also hit by the flooding, where some areas of land subsided into a nearby river destroying several families' homes. The displaced families each received the gift of a ShelterBox, which were set up together on a family plot. 

ShelterBox has brought these Fijian families new homes allowing them to start to rebuild their lives again whilst living in comfort and dignity. 

Further boxes have been prepositioned in Fiji that will enable ShelterBox to respond rapidly if disasters strike there in the future.     

]]> Steve Pickering Fri, 20 Apr 2012 21:18:01 +0200 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/04/shelterbox-brings-smiles-to-flooded-fiji.html ShelterBox responds to floods in the Amazon http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/pzyUugWGLm8/shelterbox-responds-to-floods-in-the-amazon.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/04/shelterbox-responds-to-floods-in-the-amazon.html Continuous heavy rains over the past few months have caused widespread flooding in the region of Loreto located in the heart of the Peruvian rainforest. The heavy rains have caused rivers' water levels to rise and consequently overflow into surrounding areas, displacing many families. A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) is en route to Iquitos, the world's largest city that is unreachable by road and situated next to the left riverbank of the Amazon River, to assess the need for emergency shelter. Reports say that the height of the Amazon River has surpassed its last record of 118.59 metres above sea... Continuous heavy rains over the past few months have caused widespread flooding in the region of Loreto located in the heart of the Peruvian rainforest. The heavy rains have caused rivers' water levels to rise and consequently overflow into surrounding areas, displacing many families. 

A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) is en route to Iquitos, the world's largest city that is unreachable by road and situated next to the left riverbank of the Amazon River, to assess the need for emergency shelter. 

Reports say that the height of the Amazon River has surpassed its last record of 118.59 metres above sea level in the year 1986, causing flooding in many areas in and around Iquitos. Its some 493,000 inhabitants are suffering from power shortages and there are reports of some people becoming alarmed by the appearance of strange aquatic animals. 

Challenges 

Steve Crabtree (UK) is one of the SRT members who is travelling to the northern Peruvian city and said he is preparing himself for the challenges that lie ahead: 

'We are flying to Lima to meet with local Rotarians to discuss transportation options to carry out the needs assessment. Not only is Iquitos unreachable by road but it is also flooded so we need to look at travelling around by boats. The next stage is then to think about how to get the ShelterBoxes there if a need is found and also find suitable dry land to pitch the tents with access to water and sanitation services. ' 

Malcolm Shead (UK), Mark Curnow (UK) and Rachel Simpkins (UK) are the other SRT members joining Steve on the deployment.    

]]> Steve Pickering Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:30:40 +0200 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/04/shelterbox-responds-to-floods-in-the-amazon.html Reuniting families in Congo http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/1g20pa55IKg/reuniting-families-in-congo.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/04/reuniting-families-in-congo.html Many thousands of people were left homeless after several explosions ripped apart the Mpila neighbourhood in Brazzaville, in the Republic of the Congo. As a result, they have been staying in overcrowded temporary shelter camps but ShelterBox has been distributing emergency aid to help people return to their land as quickly as possible. Cédric Neuville is a ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) volunteer based in France and travelled to the Republic of the Congo to assist with the distribution of tents and other life-saving equipment. ‘This is my first deployment so far with ShelterBox. I got a great feeling helping these... Many thousands of people were left homeless after several explosions ripped apart the Mpila neighbourhood in Brazzaville, in the Republic of the Congo. As a result, they have been staying in overcrowded temporary shelter camps but ShelterBox has been distributing emergency aid to help people return to their land as quickly as possible.

Cédric Neuville is a ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) volunteer based in France and travelled to the Republic of the Congo to assist with the distribution of tents and other life-saving equipment. 

‘This is my first deployment so far with ShelterBox. I got a great feeling helping these people in the areas directly affected by the explosion, close to their homes, so they can have a shelter during this rainy season. Families can now return to their homes and begin to rebuild their lives. The SRT, working closely with Rotarians from all three Brazzaville clubs and staff from SDV Congo-Bolloré Africa Logistics, will continue this process of pitching tents directly in the affected zone.’

The team has been working with the local communities and training them to pitch tents enabling them to be part of the solution.  So far 64 families have been sheltered and hundreds more tents are in the process of being distributed.

Following the explosion many families were separated and allowing them to return to their own land with a safe shelter to sleep in is assisting in reuniting communities. Cédric spoke with Sobonko Augustine whose children are currently living with her brother’s wife 

Cédric added: ‘My thanks go out to all ShelterBox supporters around the world, whose support has had a huge and positive impact on the people of the Republic of the Congo.'

 

]]> Steve Pickering Sun, 15 Apr 2012 22:10:57 +0200 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/04/reuniting-families-in-congo.html ShelterBox Response Team assessing need in Fiji http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/w1midF8znmE/shelterbox-response-team-assessing-need-in-fiji.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/04/shelterbox-response-team-assessing-need-in-fiji.html A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) carrying out a needs assessment in Fiji has found that affected communities are cut off by high floodwaters. The flooding has caused extensive damage to roads and bridges making aid delivery conditions challenging. There is widespread damage to infrastructure in the western part of the south pacific island where thousands of families have been made homeless. The main cities Sigatoka, Nadi, Lautoka, Tavua, Ba and Rakiraki are the worst hit areas and have been flooded by up to two metres of water in places. SRT members Lyndon Tamblyn (NZ) and Sally Fletcher (NZ) have had...

A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) carrying out a needs assessment in Fiji has found that affected communities are cut off by high floodwaters. The flooding has caused extensive damage to roads and bridges making aid delivery conditions challenging.

There is widespread damage to infrastructure in the western part of the south pacific island where thousands of families have been made homeless. 

The main cities Sigatoka, Nadi, Lautoka, Tavua, Ba and Rakiraki are the worst hit areas and have been flooded by up to two metres of water in places. 

SRT members Lyndon Tamblyn (NZ) and Sally Fletcher (NZ) have had logistical support from local Rotary and Fiji's disaster management agency DISMAC, including local knowledge of the affected area and transport.

 

'Submerging'


'We have been working closely with Rotarians here and also DISMAC to assess the need for emergency humanitarian aid,' said Sally. 'But although we are in a 4x4 truck, we still cannot reach some communities as some roads are still completely submerged underwater preventing us from crossing. As the waters begin to recede, we will be returning to these areas. Tomorrow we are heading further north to see what the situation is like in communities up there.' 

DISMAC director Pajiliai Dobui said to reporters: 'If people in these areas have boats, we're asking them to make them available, as the little we have is not enough.' 

Although Cyclone Daphne has passed Fiji, more rain is expected over the next few days. 

ShelterBoxes are en route to the flood-stricken country from prepositioned stock in New Zealand's capital Auckland. 

 

 

]]> Steve Pickering Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:26:13 +0200 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/04/shelterbox-response-team-assessing-need-in-fiji.html ShelterBox tents used for injured in Congo http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/eiK_WUkdA3I/shelterbox-tents-used-for-injured-in-congocongo-shelterbox.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/04/shelterbox-tents-used-for-injured-in-congocongo-shelterbox.html ShelterBox tents are being used for medical purposes in the Republic of the Congo, following an arms depot that exploded in the capital of Brazzaville on the 8 March. Thousands of people have been left homeless, injured and traumatised after several explosions ripped apart the Mpila neighbourhood and damaged various others. As a result, they have been staying in overcrowded temporary shelter camps. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Congolese Red Cross and the French Red Cross have been making the blast site safe; and working in the camps to restore family links and help children who... ShelterBox tents are being used for medical purposes in the Republic of the Congo, following an arms depot that exploded in the capital of Brazzaville on the 8 March. 

Thousands of people have been left homeless, injured and traumatised after several explosions ripped apart the Mpila neighbourhood and damaged various others. As a result, they have been staying in overcrowded temporary shelter camps. 

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Congolese Red Cross and the French Red Cross have been making the blast site safe; and working in the camps to restore family links and help children who have been separated from their families as a result of the accident. ShelterBox has provided tents across the camps to be used as a place of reception and welcome to the camps, but more importantly, to enable the ICRC to give trauma counselling for the survivors. 

The hot, wet climate can also affect the displaced people's health and can increase the chance of cholera to spread. ShelterBox tents are being used by the Africa Doctors Association who have been doing minor operations and delivering treatments for those in need of medical attention. 

'Privacy and dignity' 

'I was seeing five patients a day before we received these two tents from ShelterBox,' said Dr. Sombo. 'But now I have 150 patients a day. The environment is cleaner, we can work faster, and above all, it offers the patients privacy and dignity. Thank you.' 

ShelterBox Response Team member John Diksa (FR) has been assessing the need in the Central African country: 

'It's a very challenging environment to work in as it looks like an earthquake has hit the city, but then there is also ammunition and unexploded ordnance that needs to be cleared under the rubble before attempting to return these families to their homes.' 

'Rebuilding' 

'We have been working with the ICRC, Handicap International and other aid agencies to coordinate a tent distribution plan for a ShelterBox camp we plan to set up over the next few days. Until the site is levelled and cleared, we are distributing tents to families near their damaged homes on cleared, safe ground, allowing them to begin rebuilding their homes. We have also been providing tents for medical purposes to other aid agencies.'    

]]> Steve Pickering Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:41:42 +0200 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/04/shelterbox-tents-used-for-injured-in-congocongo-shelterbox.html ShelterBox responds to flood-struck Fiji http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/erwetYpaIaI/shelterbox-responds-to-flood-struck-fiji.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/04/shelterbox-responds-to-flood-struck-fiji.html A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) is flying to Fiji to assess the need for emergency shelter, following heavy rains over the past few months that have caused riverbanks to burst flooding villages. Thousands of homes have been damaged on the largest island of Viti Levu forcing around 8,000 people into evacuation centres. Water andelectricity have been cut off in some areas. The floods are 'three to four times worse' than the last devastating floods in 2009, according to the South Pacific nation's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who has called for a solution to the country's flooding problems. 'We are consulting... A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) is flying to Fiji to assess the need for emergency shelter, following heavy rains over the past few months that have caused riverbanks to burst flooding villages.

 

Thousands of homes have been damaged on the largest island of Viti Levu forcing around 8,000 people into evacuation centres. Water andelectricity have been cut off in some areas.

 

The floods are 'three to four times worse' than the last devastating floods in 2009, according to the South Pacific nation's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who has called for a solution to the country's flooding problems.

'We are consulting with several key players, including Rotary in Suva, DISMAC (Fijian disaster management agency), Red Cross and the New Zealand Government to coordinate an appropriate and rapid response,' said ShelterBox International Director Lasse Petersen.

SRT members Lyndon Tamblyn (NZ) and Sally Fletcher (NZ) will arrive in Fiji to begin the needs assessment on 5 April.

 

'This will be my second deployment to Fiji as I was part of the Response Team that responded to Hurricane Tomas that hit in 2009,' saidLyndon. 'The Rotarians and government officials who assisted us then are helping us now and will provide valuable logistical support with transport and language.'

 

]]> Steve Pickering Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:24:00 +0200 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/04/shelterbox-responds-to-flood-struck-fiji.html ShelterBox and Rotary sign project partnership http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/x-HQopz8P5w/shelterbox-and-rotary-sign-project-partnership.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/03/shelterbox-and-rotary-sign-project-partnership.html ShelterBox and Rotary International (RI) have formed a project partner agreement this month, signed by John Hewko, Rotary International's CEO and General Secretary, and Tom Henderson OBE, ShelterBox Founder and CEO. The formalisation of this partnership cements a 12-year relationship providing emergency shelter and life-saving humanitarian aid for hundreds of thousands of families around the world, who have been made homeless by disaster. ShelterBox began as a Rotary Club Millennium Project in 2000 and today continues to have a significant input from Rotarians in its governance Board, senior management, operational capacity and international development. 'Rotary and Rotarians have been integral... ShelterBox and Rotary International (RI) have formed a project partner agreement this month, signed by John Hewko, Rotary International's CEO and General Secretary, and Tom Henderson OBE, ShelterBox Founder and CEO. 

The formalisation of this partnership cements a 12-year relationship providing emergency shelter and life-saving humanitarian aid for hundreds of thousands of families around the world, who have been made homeless by disaster. 

ShelterBox began as a Rotary Club Millennium Project in 2000 and today continues to have a significant input from Rotarians in its governance Board, senior management, operational capacity and international development. 

'Rotary and Rotarians have been integral in the operational development of the organisation, from being eyes and ears on the ground during deployments, to providing logistics, accommodation and translation services, right to assisting with the pitching of tents,' said Tom. 'Many of our global Response Team volunteers are Rotarians. Others have joined the Rotary family having seen the difference that Rotary and ShelterBox make on the ground. They have always helped us in endless ways.'

Not only have Rotary clubs and Rotarians historically contributed a huge amount to ShelterBox’s fundraising efforts but members of the Rotary family have also founded each one of its 21 affiliates. This support remains key for the charity to be prepared for a disaster of any scale and to be in a position to assist the most vulnerable families at the time when they need it the most. 

Through the new partnership, the two organisations will assist Rotarians to be part of a critical solution at times of disaster through providing humanitarian service when disasters occur in their area; engaging with ShelterBox in disaster preparedness initiatives within their country or district; and supporting ShelterBox readiness, awareness and capacity building. 

Mutual goals 

'For more than ten years, ShelterBox has given light to over one hundred thousand families worldwide in their darkest hour,' said John. 'This project partner agreement represents our mutual goal of helping those in need. It gives RI a forward-facing approach to immediate disaster relief.' 

'It's an historic moment for us to become a Rotary project partner,' said Tom. 'It's the first of its kind and is a great opportunity for us to engage with our Rotary friends around the world to increase awareness of what we do with Rotary and, of course, an opportunity for Rotarians to increase our avenues of service worldwide.'   

]]> Steve Pickering Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:45:45 +0200 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/03/shelterbox-and-rotary-sign-project-partnership.html ShelterBox revisits Turkey http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/13a-6ajXKgU/shelterbox-revisits-turkey.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/03/shelterbox-revisits-turkey.html Two significant earthquakes hit Van Province in Eastern Turkey in October and November last year. Thousands of people were made homeless in the region that experiences harsh winters with sub-zero temperatures and high snowfall. ShelterBox responded distributing 1,341 ShelterBoxes along with an additional thermal layer for each family relief tent. It was the first deployment that the thermal layer had been used, and the first significant deployment in a region that experiences prolonged Northern Hemisphere winters. Five months after the quakes struck, ShelterBox Operations Coordinator Fionn McKee (UK) and Operations Assistant Rebecca Ridgeway (UK) have been deployed to Turkey to... Two significant earthquakes hit Van Province in Eastern Turkey in October and November last year. Thousands of people were made homeless in the region that experiences harsh winters with sub-zero temperatures and high snowfall. 

ShelterBox responded distributing 1,341 ShelterBoxes along with an additional thermal layer for each family relief tent. It was the first deployment that the thermal layer had been used, and the first significant deployment in a region that experiences prolonged Northern Hemisphere winters. 

Five months after the quakes struck, ShelterBox Operations Coordinator Fionn McKee (UK) and Operations Assistant Rebecca Ridgeway (UK) have been deployed to Turkey to conduct a ShelterBox monitoring and evaluation programme. 

The programme is aimed at interviewing beneficiary families to collect feedback regarding the performance of the ShelterBox aid in a cold climate as well as meeting with partners that worked with ShelterBox during the deployment. 

The majority of families have moved into containers as reconstruction work is set to commence in the next few weeks now temperatures are finally starting to increase. However some families are still living in ShelterBox disaster relief tents. 

'I never imagined that I could stay in a tent in the winter for 40 days,' said Bulent Turgut, a small business owner whose apartment was partially damaged in the first 7.2-magnitude earthquake. 

Birgil Kurkmaz Birhan and his family have had the option of living in a container and said: 'We prefer to stay in the ShelterBox tent.' 

'While beneficiaries want life to return to normal as soon as possible, many have told us that they prefer to stay in the ShelterBox tents rather than return home as they are still living in fear of the aftershocks,' said Rebecca. 

'The feedback ShelterBox receives time and time again is that the tent is one, if not the, best humanitarian tent available,' said Fionn. 'We don't want families to be living in tents any longer than is necessary. But if livelihoods and homes have been destroyed then a ShelterBox tent not only provides high quality emergency shelter, it helps families stay together and set them on their way to recovering from a disaster.' 

To read more about ShelterBox's response the disaster, visit the deployment page here. 

]]> Steve Pickering Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:16:44 +0100 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/03/shelterbox-revisits-turkey.html ShelterBox Response Team assesses need in Peru http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Shelterbox/~3/nIxjzWS43GQ/shelterbox-response-team-assesses-need-in-peru.html http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/03/shelterbox-response-team-assesses-need-in-peru.html Heavy rains and landslides have caused extensive damage in the mountainous region of Cuzco in south-eastern Peru, home to the tourist destination of Machu Picchu. Reports say that thousands of people have been made homeless and almost 10,000 hectares of crops have been destroyed. Local Rotarians met the ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) as it arrived in Peru's capital, Lima, on 18 March. They are providing the team with transport and logistical support during the deployment. Response Team members John Cordell (US) and Gary Boe (US) are meeting with the National Institute of Civil Defense (INDECI), the South American country’s national... Heavy rains and landslides have caused extensive damage in the mountainous region of Cuzco in south-eastern Peru, home to the tourist destination of Machu Picchu. Reports say that thousands of people have been made homeless and almost 10,000 hectares of crops have been destroyed. 

Local Rotarians met the ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) as it arrived in Peru's capital, Lima, on 18 March. They are providing the team with transport and logistical support during the deployment. 

Response Team members John Cordell (US) and Gary Boe (US) are meeting with the National Institute of Civil Defense (INDECI), the South American country’s national disaster relief agency, to get the latest information on the ground. 

'Over the next few days we are carrying out an assessment in and around Cuzco to establish those families who are in need of emergency shelter,' said John. 'Many roads are blocked from the landslides so we are discussing transport options with local organisations to help us travel around.' 

This is the second time ShelterBox has deployed to Peru in response to floods in the Cuzco region. Prepositioned ShelterBoxes in Panama will be sent to Peru if a need is found.

]]> Steve Pickering Mon, 19 Mar 2012 22:19:00 +0100 http://blogovate.typepad.com/shelterbox/2012/03/shelterbox-response-team-assesses-need-in-peru.html