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ShelterBox has responded to more than 200 disasters across almost 90 countries since it's first deployment in January 2001, where 143 boxes were sent to survivors of a 7.9-magnitude earthquake in Gujarat, India.
The international disaster relief charity is currently responding to disasters in seven countries across four continents, more than it has ever done before simultaneously, helping families affected by conflict, flooding, hurricane and earthquake.
Earthquakes in Guatemala
Guatemala has been hit by two earthquakes this month causing widespread damage to infrastructure and bringing a sense of panic to affected communities. A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) has been working with partners in country to assess the need and distribute shelter, bringing families dignity as they rebuild their homes.
Children outside their new ShelterBox tent in Guatemala
Syrian refugee crisis
ShelterBox has been working hard to bring winterised emergency shelter to Syrian refugee families in Iraq Kurdistan, who have been forced to flee their homes to escape the escalating violence.
32-year-old Novadeen, his wife Manja aged 26 and their children aged five, four and three abandoned their home in Syria's Qamshli as they felt threatened for their lives.
'We were smuggled over the border and arrived at Domiz camp about one month ago,' said Novadeen. 'We were living outside of the camp with our cousin in an overcrowded canvas tent. We are so happy now that we can be living together as a family in this ShelterBox tent.'
SRT member Julia Schaper (DE) in Iraq Kurdistan
Flooding in Africa
Meanwhile an SRT has recently returned home from the Sahel region of Africa where flooding affected communities in Senegal. ShelterBox still has teams working to deliver lifesaving shelter and equipment to families in Uganda and Nigeria. In Nigeria alone more than two million people have been displaced as a result of the devastating flooding.
Hurricane Sandy
An SRT immediately deployed to Haiti to assess the need in the aftermath of the devastating Hurricane Sandy. Sandy also ripped through the eastern coast of the USA where an SRT has been distributing much needed blankets to affected families protecting them from the wintry conditions, making it ShelterBox's 200th deployment.
'The weather here in New York and New Jersey is freezing with sub-zero conditions fast-approaching,' said SRT member Mike Freeman (US). 'It's great to be supporting emergency relief efforts by providing these families with vital blankets, bringing them warmth and safety.'
ShelterBox has come a long way in twelve years and we would like to thank all of our supporters, donors, volunteers and workers for making our work possible around the world, helping families in need.
