NEWSLETTER
ISSUE 3 2015
WELCOME Week by week the drama unfolds on TV news, and suddenly we are all talking about it. For many years ShelterBox has sought by warfare. In previous Newsletters you will have seen our work in troubled places such as Gaza and Myanmar, and you can read in this edition about Cameroon. But recently we became involved in a new aspect of this nomadic phenomenon. In this edition we give you an insight into our work on the Greek island of Lesbos, as it became one of the gateways to Europe for refugees from the Middle East. ShelterBox provided shelter and shade in transit camps. On arrival the camps were inadequate sanitation. ShelterBox and its colleague charities worked hard in sweltering temperatures, often with security concerns as numbers threatened to overwhelm, and the frustrations of refugees spilled over into protests and demonstrations. But our teams left conditions far better than they found them, deploying shade nets and large UN-style tents. They also took time to talk to refugee families, to understand their stories and what they had left behind. Familiar tabloid headlines characterise this as a ‘migrant crisis’, following it all the way from its origins in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and north Africa, then across perilous sea crossings, and into Europe. But the word ‘migrant’, however accurately it describes people on the move from one place to another, has become pejorative. For the most part, these are ordinary families – much like yours or mine – who have had the misfortune to see their home countries sink fractured and fearful. So they gather up their children, their elderly relatives, a few possessions, and make these inordinately long treks - simply because to stay is to face danger, even death.
In the same circumstances, with the hope of sure most of us would do the same. Most are merely in search of some kindness, a more Basic human rights. So I make no apology that ShelterBox has tackled their plight with the same energy as it would that of any other families overwhelmed by events beyond their control. I am proud of our work on the Greek island of Lesbos, and by the time you read this we will once again be helping refugees in Iraq Kurdistan. In this edition we bring you the usual mix of news about other deployments, heartwarming thank yous from the families you’ve helped, and a look at the range of equipment we We are so grateful for your support, as are receiving end of your generosity. Long may our worthwhile partnership continue.
Alison Wallace, Chief Executive, ShelterBox
partners in international disaster relief
CONTENTS PG 3 & 4 Greece: 12,000 people with 12,000 stories PG 5 & 6 Greece: Children of the long march PG 7 & 8 PG 9 PG 10 Malawi: 90 year old thanks her well-wishers PG 11 & 12 Fundraising: Taming the Wild West PG 13 & 14 Cameroon: Sheltering families on the run
The ruins of Pipildanda village in the mountains of Nepal. ShelterBox aid is
KEEP IN TOUCH: T: 01326 569782 E: info@shelterbox.org ShelterBox: Water-ma-Trout, Helston, Cornwall, TR13 0LW Compiled by: Mark Nicholson marknicholson@shelterbox.org Charity No: 1096479 Company No: 4612652 President: HRH The Duchess of Cornwall ShelterBox is a Charity independent of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation.
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and child rest at Kara Tepe camp on Lesbos.
12,000 PEOPLE, WITH 12,000 INDIVIDUAL STORIES Responding to the refugee crisis on the Greek islands, ShelterBox found itself providing respite rather than rescue. And, on occasion, our team took a break from providing shelter and shade just to listen. Lesbos is a popular holiday destination, third largest of the Greek distance from the Turkish coast, its northern beaches a tantalising and make the short but perilous sea journey onto European soil. island into a place of turmoil, confusion, often sadness. Thousands and ferry tickets, with delays testing the patience of both travellers and their reluctant hosts. By day temperatures and tempers rose. Lesbos became a refugee bottleneck, and conditions in the transit large UN-style tents and areas of shade netting, working alongside colleague agencies improving sanitation and providing food and drinking water, did the situation begin to calm. Eventually the Greek government families became more manageable.
‘I feel the Syrians have set the bar very high in terms of their tolerance and patience. It has given me something to aim for when I return home. I would hope it continues to give me perspective on how I cope with my comparison - problems.’ ShelterBox team leader Sam Hewett said that the deployment to Lesbos island was unlike any other. ‘In the frantic days that have just passed, where we were trying to maximise our impact and to support as many people as we could, we were constantly dragged aside by people’s individual needs. Sometimes they were just questions, but others were more pressing - a month old baby who was sick, but not sick enough for an ambulance. Without registration papers no taxi would take them to the hospital.’
Little comfort, little security. Refugee camp conditions are basic and temporary.
‘Support for refugees was so limited that we were forced to get involved in individual cases, even when perhaps we should not have. There were twelve thousand people here, with twelve thousand individual stories.’ The team even found small items of ShelterBox aid that had travelled with refugees all the way from Syria. Despite witnessing occasional unrest and protests, response volunteer Jack Bailey was moved by the stoicism of the refugees. ‘I feel the Syrians have set the bar very high in terms of their tolerance and patience. It has given me something to aim for when I return home. I would hope it continues to give me perspective on how I cope with my own Jack found a mix of desperation and optimism. ‘I met an Iraqi woman in Kara Tepe camp with her sister, brother, six young children - and saw desperation running through her being. She pleaded with me to give her information about how to register, how she could get clothes for her children, how she could get to Athens. I had nothing that would help her.’ ‘But by contrast I saw another family, whose sons had been helping us erect the tents,
Response volunteer Jack Bailey helps to carry yet another tent onto a transit site on Lesbos.
and then waited on the waterside for their ferry towards Athens. A small but profound moment of happiness in all the misery.’
Keep in touch with our work worldwide at www.shelterbox.org 4
CHILDREN OF THE LONG MARCH ‘Every day we move to a new place, meet new people. They are learning bad habits. Their days have no structure.’
Where are they now? Smiles hiding the discomfort of a life constantly on the move. Children of the Jejou family at Kara Tepe on Lesbos.
Jennifer Butte-Dahl leads a life of contrasts. She directs the Master of Arts in Applied International Studies at the University of Washington in Seattle, response volunteer for ShelterBox, to the Greek island of Lesbos.
While working on improving conditions in the transit camps, Jennifer and her Syrian co-worker Samer had Their responses tell a story that echoes back across the Middle East, and now into the heart of Europe. Q: What is your family name? Where are you from? Why and when did you leave? A: and we have three children. We are from Mosul,
Q: What happened when you arrived in Greece? A: We landed in Molyvos, then walked for two to pay 200 Euro to get to Mytiline. Q: How long have you been here?
(ISIS), and for the future of our children. We are Christians, and Christians are all being killed Many bad things have happened to us and our extended family. Daesh kidnapped some of and his wife. Two children in our extended family were killed by missiles. Q: How did you leave Iraq? A: Then we got another car to get to Turkey. We stayed in Turkey for some time but then ran out again in Irbil. Then made it back to Turkey. Q: What happened during the crossing? A: We are six families traveling together – 40 people in total. We all went in one boat. It was a nice one, not a rubber dingy, but a adults. Two babies cost the same as one adult. in the middle of the sea. Thankfully, some of us
We spent four days in the port, and four days in Kara Tepe. We received our exit papers yesterday during the mass registration at the stadium. We have a ferry for 8pm today Q: How is this experience impacting on the children? A: They’ve lost their manners. Every day we move to a new place, meet new people. They are learning bad habits. Their days have no structure. There is no controlled environment. The children want to get back to school. We want them back in school as well. Q: How did the tent help you? A: this tent empty, cleaned it up, and began using it instead. It is big. We can put our luggage inside this tent. This tent provides shelter for us and it is a safe place. It is also better if it is windy. This tent will stand better in the wind. It also keeps us out of the sun, which is much better.
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ALL KITTED OUT
Everyone is familiar with the famous green ShelterBox and its contents. But now we have even more resources at our disposal, stored worldwide, and ready-to-roll when disaster strikes. We thought you would like to see the full range of aid that your generous donations provide.
SHELTERBOX Everything a family needs to start again Tent Solar lighting Blankets
Water Carriers Tools Groundsheets
WHAT’S NEW?
Flex 3 tent with chimney
Water Filtration
SCHOOLBOX Ball Point Pens
Wind-up Radio and Phone Charger
Fifty school packs
Blackboard Paint
Chalks
Maths Sets Hole Punch Pencils
Stationery Calculators
Colouring Pens
Word Games
SHELTER KIT
Helps repair a damaged home Fixings
Hammer and Rope
Hoe
Shovel
Saw
Waterproof Tarpaulins x2
Help ShelterBox to be ready for the world’s next disaster. Donate on 0300 0300 500, or online at www.shelterbox.org 8
A ROYAL APPOINTMENT HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, President of ShelterBox, team and response volunteers as part of a Royal visit to Padstow, Cornwall with HRH Prince Charles on 20 July. HRH also discussed ShelterBox’s Nepal response with volunteer Liam Norris, who was in the village of Chautara near the
UK TV news networks, and shown on the
their annual visit to the county, news arrived from Clarence House that Royal patronage
and other deployments.
In Padstow, an unusual harbourside pitch for a ShelterBox tent.
‘This was very timely, as the team and I had all enjoyed the visit to Padstow very much. As is always the case, The Duchess was very interested in the work of ShelterBox. It was a light-hearted and warm encounter, and the request to be part of a Royal visit was a great boost to team morale. Royal patronage is a real honour for any charity, but for a relatively new and emerging organisation like ShelterBox it is a welcome endorsement of our international humanitarian work.’
90 YEAR OLD ANIYA THANKS HER WELL-WISHERS than forty years. In one of its most sustained stranded and remote communities over three months proved the portability of our aid, ShelterBox response teams spread out across the districts of Zomba, Chikwawa and Mulanje.
What does it mean for ShelterBox to give aid and tents to your community?’ ‘I am happy and very much appreciate ShelterBox coming here. I thank the Lord that well-wishers have come to my rescue.’
orphaned grandchildren by herself. When the river started to rise one of the children raised trouble walking, so some of the villagers carried her to the safety of higher land. They managed washed the rest away.
daughters passed away, and each of them left a child. Her husband is also deceased.
ShelterBox aid proves its portability, this time on an ox cart in southern Malawi.
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The wide open spaces of Dartmoor. Real uphill endurance across a gruelling forty mile cycle ride.
TAMING THE WILD WEST ShelterBox’s Wild West Challenge in September was the South West’s newest endurance event, with participants testing their stamina across Dartmoor National Park and the River Exe. wits against the Westcountry’s landscape and weather in the region’s tough new endurance fundraiser – the Wild West Challenge. They hiked and cycled around Dartmoor National park, and canoed on the River Exe, to raise money their own battles against landscape and weather. But this wasn’t a gentle jog with a backpack – every team had to carry a big green ShelterBox with them as they
raced against the clock, and against the other determined teams, covering around 67 miles. hike across ten tors over two days, the hardy challengers also spent a night under canvas. Events Fundraiser Rowan Blewett said ‘It was designed to be hugely challenging, but huge fun. Apart from the feeling of personal achievement, the real reward for our entrants is knowing they’ve helped families worldwide who don’t have the luxury of choosing their challenges.’
for a canoe ride on the River Exe.
Why not help ShelterBox with your own fundraising event? There are lots of ideas in our special fundraising pack – click on ‘Be involved’ at www.shelterbox.org or email events@shelterbox.org’ 12
Just one corner of the vast area of Minawao camp. Below, a mother and child settle into their new tent, and (bottom) pitch perfect - a ‘train the trainer’ session.
CAMEROON – SHELTERING FAMILIES ON THE RUN Minawao is a sprawling refugee camp in Cameroon’s the Nigerian border. Now home to an estimated 45,000 refugees, ShelterBox has been working with International Emergency and Development
Gudusu is the father of three children and now a proud owner of a ShelterBox tent. Minawao in the Republic of Cameroon is one of Africa’s largest refugee camps. Dusty and desolate, temperatures can rise to above 40 degrees. It is also a melting pot of nationalities and languages. Little wonder this mountainous and diverse country is often referred to as ‘Africa in miniature’. Minawao is now home to a vast and eclectic mix of people - businessmen, shepherds, teachers, and Boko Haram. Many husbands were killed in Minawao has a predominance of fatherless families. 224 ShelterBoxes have already been distributed this year in the UN’s refugee camp by aid partners IEDA Relief. A further 1,000 tents will follow along with 2,000 solar lights and water containers.
He arrived in the Minawao camp with his wife and children. When Boko Haram attacked their village in Nigeria, they left all their possessions behind facing hunger and heat with no shelter. Finally, they arrived on the border with Cameroon, where they were welcomed by humanitarian organisations and relocated to the camp of Minawao to receive aid. Usually, when refugees arrive spontaneously, they are all put together in community shelters as a temporary measure, without regard for gender or age. These community shelters do protection problems for young women who are more exposed to risk. Thanks to ShelterBox and IEDA Relief, a ShelterBox tent and now have a roof over their heads.
Join the team. Donate, fundraise, volunteer. You, your family, your club, school or workplace, can all get involved. Details at www.shelterbox.org 14
Front and back cover: Malawi was a challenging landscape for aid delivery. But in this village ShelterBoxes were unloaded and literally serenaded by a happy and relieved community.