Thank You from ShelterBox

SB Thanks 2018ShelterBox thank the Club for its support this past year noting: “the generous support of Rotary clubs like yours has meant more families in their darkest hours have been given vital shelter and warmth. We are only able to do so much because of your support. A huge thank you again from everyone at ShelterBox and we wish you and everyone at your Rotary club a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”

In 2018, in Partnership with Rotary, they were able to respond to 18 disasters in 17 different countries around the world with local Rotary clubs helping in almost all of their 10 responses to natural disasters. This has meant help for 210,000 people, that’s over 30,000 families supported with emergency shelter aid and other essential household items including tents, tarpaulins, tool kits, blankets, mosquito nets, solar lights, cooking sets and water filters and a further 12,000 families supported with essential household items.

Syria xmas 18Syria - 2018 has seen a dramatic shift in the power dynamics of the war, but Syria’s civilians continue to pay the price of this 7 year-long conflict. As the freezing winter closes in on Syrian families ShelterBox is working with in-country partners to deliver ShelterKits and winterised aid packages containing mattresses, high thermal blankets, children’s clothing (including insulated coats), solar lights, kitchen sets, tools and fixings for winterising their shelters alldesigned to reduce families’ vulnerability to weather and environmental extremes.

Iraq - heavy rain caused localised flooding which made some roads and bridges impassable for trucks. Access is now possible and distributions began in mid-December with sealing-off kits (a package that is used to make existing shelters, particularly damaged or abandoned buildings, weatherproof and secure) and supporting aid items, including solar lights to an area called Hawija. Hawija was cut off by fighting for a long time, so it's really crucial that to make the most of the current access to make buildings weatherproof, with more rain and cold weather on the way.

Cameroon - ShelterBox has been supporting households in Minawao refugee camp in the Far-North region of Cameroon since 2015. Over 7,000 families have so far been supported over 5 separate projects plans for a 6th project have bceen agreed providing tents and supporting aid items to 600 households in the camp and 200 ShelterKits and supporting aid items to internally displaced people outside of the camp. The aid is in transit and due to arrive in country in January 2019.