Case Studies
ShelterBox - Deployments in 2010
ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity that provides emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies to families around the world who lose everything in a disaster. Each big, green ShelterBox contains a specially designed disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water purification and storage equipment, a stove, cooking utensils, a basic tool kit, children’s activity pack and other vital items.
ShelterBox aims to provide shelter, warmth and dignity to families worldwide who have been affected by disasters. So far in 2010, ShelterBox has responded to 14 disasters around the world and delivered emergency aid for more than 350,000 people.
Kenya – Floods – January 2010
224 ShelterBoxes were dispatched to Kenya where two ShelterBox Response Teams (SRT) worked with the Kenyan Red Cross to aid to the flood-hit region of Turkana.
Tent recipient Awoi Lomungur, aged 80, from Juluk, said: “It's good that someone has heard of my need and saved me from the rain, wind, heat and mosquitoes. I can now live independently without having to rely on others.”
Calistus Napulo, an assistant government chief in Juluk, added: “In my area alone 446 victims were severely affected, many of whom are children. My people are so pleased with the tents.”
Haiti – Earthquake – January 2010
The United Nations described the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12 as the worst disaster they have ever faced. Since that day more than 27,500 ShelterBoxes have been delivered to Haiti and more than 50 volunteer SRT members have operated in the country.
ShelterBox has worked with a range of partners to ensure aid has been delivered to people in most need. The first ShelterBox team arrived in the country less than 48 hours after the earthquake struck.
ShelterBox Head of Operations, John Leach, said: “This has been the longest and biggest deployment in our history. We’ve never known a need as big as it’s been in Haiti. Without the passion, dedication and commitment of our supporters around the world, we wouldn’t have been able to respond in the way we have.”
Egypt – Floods – February 2010
224 ShelterBoxes were sent to Egypt where flash floods destroyed hundreds of homes. Torrential rains in the Aswan and Qena regions as well as the Sinai Peninsula have washed away mud brick houses forcing scores of families out of their homes.
Many villages were completely destroyed by the flooding and ShelterBox worked with local Rotarians, the Egyptian government and local Scouts to distribute aid to the worst affected areas.
Peru – Floods – February 2010
ShelterBox sent enough aid for up to 2,000 people to Peru after the region of Cuzco in the Andes experienced the worst rain in two decades. Flooding destroyed bridges and roads, an estimated 300 houses and hundreds of acres of crops.
ShelterBox Response Team member Jodie Hurt, who spent two weeks in Peru, said: “The people’s stories were harrowing and horrific. ShelterBox helped these people start to rebuild their lives. When people received a ShelterBox they were completely overwhelmed with happiness.”
Chile – Earthquake – March 2010
One of the largest earthquakes ever recorded hit Chile leaving an estimated half a million people in need of emergency shelter. Close to 1,000 ShelterBoxes were sent to the region and distributed with the help of the Chilean authorities.
Aid recipient Sara Norambvena, 70, said: “I never thought I would lose my house. Thanks to ShelterBox I have a place now to spend the winter that is coming. I have seven grandchildren that I look after and now having these two tents means we will be safe. Shelterbox is the first aid we have seen since the earthquake. We are so happy we have not been forgotten.”
Uganda – Landslide – March 2010
On Monday 1st March, a torrent of mud and huge boulders hurtled down the slopes of Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano in the Bududa district of eastern Uganda.
The mudslides wiped out an entire village including a health centre and a church where people had gathered to pray. ShelterBox distributed 200 boxes in Bududa.
SRT member Laura Dale, whose first deployment was to Uganda, said: “Seeing families move into ShelterBox tents filled me with a pride I’ve not felt before. Not of personal achievement or altruistic gain, but of being part of a charity where the difference they make is tangible.”
Fiji – Typhoon – March 2010
A severe Category 4 tropical cyclone named Tomas moved through North East Fiji tracking South East from the 12th to 17th March.
Hundreds of people were affected by the disaster and ShelterBox deployed a team and enough aid for 200 people from New Zealand.
Mexico – Earthquake – April 2010
A 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Baja California, Mexico in April. An estimated 25,000 people were affected by the earthquake with the worse damage in rural areas south of the city Mexicali.
SRT member Jennifer Kormendy who was deployed to Mexico said: “When we arrived people had stunned looks on their faces as they tried to comprehend what lay ahead following the earthquake. We received invaluable logistical support from government agencies and enthusiastic Rotarians and distributed 130 ShelterBoxes.”
China – Earthquake – April 2010
A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the remote and mountainous Qinghai province near Tibet, one of China's poorest regions, killing at least 400 people and injuring 10,000. A series of aftershocks collapsed houses, schools and offices in the ethnic Tibetan county of Yushu, leaving survivors without shelter in freezing conditions.
SRT member Tony Zhang (CN) oversaw the distribution of 200 ShelterBox tents for families who were most in need.
Guatemala – Tropical Storm – June 2010
ShelterBox responded to a devastating tropical storm which ravaged large parts of Central America and forced tens of thousands of people out of their homes.
In Guatemala close to 100,000 homes were destroyed by the storm. ShelterBox worked with local Scouts and Rotarians to distribute 512 ShelterBoxes.
Brazil – Floods – June 2010
The floods that struck north east Brazil in June were described by SRT member Tom Lay (UK) as ‘having the power of a tsunami.’
Massive flooding in the Pernambuco and Alagoas regions left thousands of families homeless. More than 1,000 ShelterBoxes were delivered in Brazil throughout June and July.
42-year-old Everaldo Carlos Mendosa and his wife, Maria Jose Silva, lost their home in the foods. Maria, aged 26, said: “The water came so quickly that we only had time to rescue the children before the house was washed away.”
Everaldo’s family moved into the first ShelterBox camp that was established in Pernambuco.
Pakistan – Floods – July/August 2010
The worst floods in living memory swept through Pakistan affecting millions of people and causing unprecedented damage. ShelterBox has worked extensively in Pakistan sine 2005 and, through their partners in Pakistan, NRSP (National Rural Support Programme), were able to house flood survivors less than 48-hours after the first floods struck.
Throughout August, emergency shelter for more than 100,000 people was committed to Pakistan by ShelterBox.
Mark Pearson, ShelterBox Field Advisor who operated out of Karachi during the floods, said: “In the Sindh province, there were thousands of families living in the flooded area with no shelter, no clean drinking water and some of them hadn’t eaten for days.
“People were having to clean and cook with the flood water so waterborne disease was rife. The need in Pakistan is beyond measure.”
Further information
View photos of the ShelterBox team at work: www.flickr.com/photos/shelterboxuk
Shelterbox's homepage: www.shelterbox.org