Wednesday 8 April – NAMIBIA
200 ShelterBoxes have been dispatched to Namibia after an initial assessment of the flood damage by the ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) in the country. The boxes are due to arrive in the Namibian capital Windhoek on 11 April. “We are co-coordinating our efforts in the country with UN-HABITAT and local agencies and have identified three areas in the north where many thousands of people have been made homeless,” says SRT volunteer Tom Lay (UK). “We will be travelling to the flood affected areas to oversee the distribution of the ShelterBoxes.” Tom is working in the country with fellow SRT volunteer Jon Chalcraft (UK). Northern Namibia has experienced heavy rain since the start of the year causing rivers to burst their banks. The Namibian government has declared a state of emergency in parts of the country and has appealed for international help. Severe flooding has also been reported in neighbouring Angola, Botswana and Zambia. It is estimated that 92 people have lost their lives and about 13,000 people have been displaced.

First tents go up in Italy
Tuesday 7 April – ITALY: The first of 50 tents has been erected in the village of Assergi, 20kms from the town of L’Aquila and close to the epicentre of the quake. “The old part of the village was badly damaged and last night 200 people had to sleep out in the open,” says ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) member John Diksa (France). SRT volunteers Nicola Jones (UK) and Andrew Biss (UK) have driven through the night from Cornwall with 40 boxes for the village. They are expected to arrive in Assergi early this evening. A further 200 boxes have been despatched from prepositioning in Birmingham and will be distributed in the L’Aquila area. ShelterBox is working in Italy with local Rotarians and the Civil Protection Agency.

SRTs arrive in Italian earthquake area
Tuesday 7 April – ITALY
A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) was due to arrive in Italy today to distribute 240 ShelterBoxes to those affected by the 6 April earthquake. SRT volunteers Nicola Jones (UK) and Andrew Biss (UK) left Helston HQ late on 6 April for the disaster area in a lorry loaded with 40 boxes. They will be met in Italy by John Diksa (France) who travelled down from Grenoble on 6 April and Mike Greenslade (UK) who is flying out from the UK. Local Rotarians will be assisting the SRT team to distribute the boxes to those most in need. At least 179 people have been killed in the quake and about 17,000 left homeless.

Team deployed to floods in southern Africa
Thursday 2 April – NAMIBIA
A ShelterBox Response Team is due to leave for Namibia on 5 April to assess the need for shelter in areas affected by recent severe flooding. UK volunteers Tom Lay and Jon Chalcraft will fly to Windhoek and then travel overland to the North East of the country to report back on the situation on the ground. The area has experienced heavy rain since the start of the year causing rivers to burst their banks. The Namibian government has declared a state of emergency in parts of the country and has appealed for international help. Severe flooding has also been reported in neighbouring Angola, Botswana and Zambia. It is estimated that 92 people have lost their lives and about 13,000 people have been displaced. “Once we have a clear picture of what is happening on the ground, we can decide our level of response,” says Pete Sykes, ShelterBox Operations Manager.

ShelterBoxes distributed in Colombia
Wednesday 25 March - COLOMBIA: ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) volunteers Andrew Holland (UK) and Peter Hill (UK) distributed 52 ShelterBoxes in the town of Candeilla in Narino Province on 19 March where 500 people made homeless by severe flooding had been sheltering in a local college building. “We carefully assessed the area and identified which towns and villages had been worst affected when the rivers broke their banks,” says Andrew Holland. “The recipients were so pleased to have some proper shelter so they can begin to rebuild their homes”. About 2000 homes were destroyed when the Mira and Telembi rivers broke their banks in February. A similar number of homes were left badly damaged. ShelterBox has been working with local charity Fundamira, the National Disaster Response Committee and local Rotarians. The Colombian air force flew the ShelterBoxes to the disaster area after their arrival in the capital Bogota. Andrew adds, “The help we have had on the ground has been terrific and allowed us to deliver the boxes quickly."

Monitoring missions head for Africa
Wednesday 25 March - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC) & SUDAN: Monitoring missions are being sent to two African countries to assess the effectiveness of the ShelterBoxes sent there. ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) volunteers Jens Pagotta (UK) and John Freeman (US) are due to leave for DRC on 31 March and Mark Smith (UK) and Arnold Kelly (NZ) to Sudan on 28 March. ShelterBox has sent out 400 boxes to DRC and 703 to Sudan since June last year to give shelter to people displaced by conflict in the two countries. “These latest deployments are part of our ongoing monitoring and assessment programme,” says ShelterBox Operations Manager Pete Sykes. “The programme helps us ensure that our assistance has been put to good use and gives us an opportunity to talk to recipients to find out how useful our aid has been and ways we can improve it.”

Second team to leave for Israel
Thursday 12 March – GAZA: A second ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) is due to leave for Israel on 16 March to oversee the safe arrival and onward transfer of 396 tents to the Gaza Strip. SRT volunteers Chris Donald (UK) and Joanna Reid (UK) will be working with international and local partners to ensure the speedy and effective distribution of the tents to people whose homes were destroyed in the recent conflict. ShelterBox has already distributed 200 boxes in the Beit Lahia area of Gaza. “There is still a great need for shelter in Gaza,” says ShelterBox Operations Manager Pete Sykes. “We now have a tried and tested route to get our aid in and we want to help as many people as we can.”
 
SRT volunteers arrive in Colombia disaster area
Tuesday 10 March – COLOMBIA: ShelterBox is responding to an appeal for assistance after heavy flooding caused widespread damage in Narino Province in the south west of the country. About 2000 homes were destroyed and 2000 badly damaged when the Mira and Telembi rivers burst their banks in mid-February. ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) volunteers Andrew Holland (UK) and Peter Hill (UK) arrived in Bogota on 7 March and are flying to Narino province today to assess the damage and prepare for the distribution of 50 boxes which are due to arrive shortly. ShelterBox is being assisted in Colombia by local NGO Fundamira, the National Disaster Response Committee and local Rotarians.

ShelterBox operational in Gaza 
Friday 6 March – GAZA: Mark Pearson - now returning from Gaza - confirmed that he was able to train 10 members of the Palestinian Youth Association to assist with the continuing set up of the camp in Beit Lahia. Mark says, "We replaced old tents that had been useless during the heavy rain over the weekend and all their mattresses and clothing were wet. The old tents let in water. As there is a lot of rubble I used breeze blocks instead of pegs on the tents. The families at Salatine camp are fed once every two days, they have no cookers, and the children are very frightened of the constant military activity. As we were setting up the tents between 08:00 - 13:00 in Beit Lahia there were 14 mortars and two Quassam rockets fired from only 1/2 km away and then an Israeli drone fired on the militants." Mark was also able to confirm that, "ShelterBox is operational now and I am satisfied the route works, we have trained people on the ground and there is a need for 400 more tents."

First tents up in Gaza
Thursday 5 March - GAZA: SRT member Mark Pearson has supervised the distribution of the first 50 of the 200 ShelterBoxes that have now arrived in the Gaza Strip. The boxes went to the Beit Lahia camp close to the Israeli border which was badly damaged in the recent fighting. “The conditions are appalling at Beit Lahia,” says Mark. “The shelter they have is totally inadequate. It has been raining heavily for the last three days and all their bedding and clothes are completely soaked. They were so happy to receive our tents.” The remaining 150 ShelterBoxes will be distributed by mid-March. Mark has been in the region for 40 days working to secure the delivery of ShelterBoxes into the Gaza Strip.

Gaza homeless to receive help at last
Tuesday 3 March - GAZA: 200 ShelterBoxes are due to arrive in the Gaza Strip tomorrow, giving urgently needed relief to the many thousands of people left homeless by the recent conflict. SRT member Mark Pearson has been in the region since late January working to facilitate the delivery of the boxes, which were dispatched from the UK in early February. “The main obstacle has been getting access into the Gaza Strip,” says Mark. “The borders between Israel and Egypt have been virtually sealed despite the acute humanitarian crisis in Gaza. There are still many thousands of people without shelter who desperately need our help.” The boxes have been transported to the Israeli town of Ashkelon, north of the Gazan border, for onward despatch into the Gaza Strip by the United Nations. “We have excellent relations with local aid agencies on the ground and we will be working with them to get the boxes distributed to those who need them as quickly as possible,” adds Mark.

Sunday 1 March - HELSTON, CORNWALL:
The latest 9-day SRT training exercise has finished, with all 16 candidates making it through the gruelling course. “It was a really challenging experience but very enjoyable,” says Becky Maynard, one of the successful candidates. “It needs to be tough given the unpredictable and difficult environments we will be working in.” Of the 16 candidates, eight were British, four were American and four were from New Zealand. “It is unusual that all the candidates that start the course complete it, but they all showed tremendous spirit and resilience. I look forward to working with them in the field in the months and years to come,” says ShelterBox Operations Manager Pete Sykes. The 9-day course took place in a variety of locations in Cornwall and Devon, including the RNAS airbase at Culdrose. There are now 124 trained SRTs available for deployment.
Friday 13th February - GAZA: During late January Mark Pearson (SRT) deployed to Jerusalem to establish the unmet need for aid in the form of tents and equipment to Gaza. Access and feasibility has been the main consideration and ShelterBox representatives have met with other NGO's to overcome these difficulties. Mark comments, "the situation remains the same. The boxes are still needed in huge quantities and thousands of Gazans remain homeless, although this not a rapid onset deployment unlike most disasters the relief getting there is limited." Official reports confirm that average daily truckloads remain below needs, with fuel in short supply, thousands remain homeless and 50,000 still have no access to running water.

ShelterBoxes greatly appreciated in Australia
Thursday 12th February - AUSTRALIA: 50 ShelterBoxes were successful delivered to the fire-ravaged Whittlesea area yesterday. Forty boxes were distributed in Kinglake and 10 at the Whittlesea Recovery Centre. ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) volunteers Eb Friedrich (Rotary Club of Woodend) and Mark Mallman (Rotary Club of Whittlesea) were on hand for the distribution. The volunteers were joined by Jenni Heenan, General Manager for ShelterBox's Australian Affiliate office who comments, “When people saw what the ShelterBoxes contain, they could not believe they were being given a tent, blankets, a cooker and other equipment."
The Department of Human Service (DHS), working with the Victoria Police and the Australian Army are assessing further needs – a decision is likely later today. Indications are that ShelterBoxes may be needed in Marysville (where virtually the entire township has disappeared), Flowerdale, Yea, Narbethong and Buxton.

Victorian Government responds to ShelterBox's offer of aid
Tuesday 10th February - AUSTRALIA: Jenni Heenan, ShelterBox's General Manager of Australia today confirmed the response to the devastating fires in Victoria, Australia. Jenni says, "We have this morning been asked by the State Government (Department of Human Services) to assist with housing for the disaster victims in Victoria. The initial deployment of 50 boxes to Whittlesea and Kinglake will occur today and we may be called on to provide further boxes as the disaster unfolds."

Arrangements are currently being made for ShelterBox Response Team [SRT] members to assist with the deployments. The Department of Human Services believes tents will be erected on community sports fields and on sites where homes once stood, and say that the multi-fuel stoves will also be of vital assistance. Jenni adds, "Many people want to be on their property, especially as there is some looting. After the deployment has been made, the Department will assess the need for more boxes – they are aware that we have immediate access to 200 in storage in Melbourne. We are sure that Rotarians in the affected areas will also be available to assist as the Department of Human Services guides the deployments."

Jenni concludes, "With this being the greatest loss of live in Australia’s peace-time history and with more than 5,000 made homeless, ShelterBox Australia is pleased to be able to provide some assistance to our fellow Australians."
ShelterBox founder and CEO Tom Henderson, UK adds, "We have all been watching from afar with great dismay as the devastating wildfire disaster hits Victoria. Our thoughts are with our Rotary and Australian friends at this difficult time.”
Further reports contain information of firefighters battling 25 bush fires across Victoria,  a death toll rising over 180, with statistics making this the country's worst bush fire disaster. Sources in Australia state that: The blazes have burnt through more than 3,000 square kilometres - entire towns were wiped off the map within 24 hours at the weekend. More than 900 homes have been destroyed and 7,000 survivors have registered for assistance with the Red Cross. The perimeter of the fire is believed to be approx. 65 kilometers and likely to take weeks contain. ShelterBox Australia has been and remains in contact with the Rotary District Governors in the affected areas who are monitoring the situation.

Fire destroys an entire village in East Sudan
Tuesday 10th February - SUDAN: Ian Neal, ShelterBox Response Team member and fireman from Cornwall, currently on deployment in Sudan spoke this morning of a fire that has destroyed an entire village east of their location. UN OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) requested the diversion of 300 ShelterBoxes in Juba to Nawayapuru. UN JLC (Joint Logistics Centre) will facilitate the transport and Save the Children will assist with the distribution. No SRT's will accompany the boxes however Ian Neal commented, "With ShelterBox operating Sudan we were pleased to be able to assist and successfully re-deploy 300 of our boxes to make up a short fall in the relief effort." SRT Peter Pearce of Australia in Sudan

Shelterbox's final team in Somalia confirm "all tents are up"
Monday 9th February- HARGEISA: The final ShelterBox Response Team members on the ground in Hargeisa today confirm that five IDP camps have been successfully equipped with  ShelterBox tents. Mohamed Osman the Minister for Resettlement, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction says of ShelterBox, ""Your Organization and all of your team’s effort has immensely helped the needy of Somaliland. The distribution feedback from the poor, elderly and both physically and mentally handicapped individuals was extremely positive and demonstrates both the need for and the impact of the generosity of ShelterBox Organization. We are genuinely appreciative of your support and assistance by your teams in bringing a roof over the head albeit temporarily of many, many relatively less fortunate households and individuals."
Mr. Osman added, "Organizations such as Shelter Box are indeed few and far apart; nevertheless your approach is revolutionary in its kind, direct and straight forward in approach as you travel long distance to meet face to face with real beneficiaries among the poor. Your sympathy and compassion to make a difference in deprived areas in the world is unparalleled as your teams projected through out the recent distribution exercises."

Gaza status report from ShelterBox HQ
Saturday 24th January - GAZA: ShelterBox is currently establishing if there is an unmet need for aid in the form of tents and equipment to Gaza. Consideration of access and feasibility to deploy and distribute ShelterBox aid safely is being assessed.

The ongoing efforts in Somalia continue with team 3 in-country.
Friday 23rd January - HARGEISA: ShelterBox Response Team member Mike Greenslade reports to HQ that tent distribution and training continues in Hargeisa with 480 tents issued to IDP families living in and around the capital. ShelterBox Response Team members and local volunteers have erected over 250 new Africa tents, at two completed campsites named ‘Kood-Buur’ and ‘26th June’. Newly trained teams of local volunteers continue to build two further camps; ‘Mohammed Haybe’ and ‘Ahmed Dhagax’. Mike comments, “Distribution has gone smoothly with those allocated a tent receiving a numbered ticket which they exchange in the grounds of the Ministry of RRR. Reserve tents have been issued to the elderly and disabled, who receive no state support, living outside the camps on a discretionary basis.” The third ShelterBox Response Team consisting of Adrian Sumner and Jens Pagotto from the UK and Mark Dyer from the USA will now oversee the completion of ‘Haybe’ and ‘Dagax’ camps and the distribution, training and fulfillment of the large ‘Ga'an Libah’ camp.
Mike adds, "There has been a lot of hard work from all parties involved and it's been immensely satisfying to be able to help such warm and welcoming people. For some, this has been the first outside aid they've received. Somaliland's low national budget means that there is no safety net for the vulnerable, and there are thousands more needy IDP's spread throughout the country.  I'm sure ShelterBox would be welcomed back with open arms.”
 
Tuesday 6th January – SOMALIA
ShelterBox Response Team members Jane Nash & Andy Green have carried out a series of initial assessments of various sites to put up tents for the internally displaced people of Somalia. The SRT's are working closely with the ministry of Resettlement, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction and in-country International NGO's including the NRC (Norwegian Refugee Council). The second two person team consisting of Mike Greenslade & Chris Brown of Cornwall, UK are due to leave tomorrow.