NEWSLETTER SUMMER2013
EDITORIAL ShelterBox has come a long way in its short history. From its Cornish roots in 2000 it has spread out worldwide, making a real difference to the lives of families fleeing disasters and conflict. And there is one lasting lesson that this enthusiastic growth has taught us – the immense strength forged in partnership. ShelterBox is able to respond quickly and effectively only because it has built up a network of local, regional, national and global partners. From its enduring associations with Rotary and the Royal Navy, ShelterBox is now supported worldwide by a network of international affiliates, colleague aid agencies, and distribution partners. In this newsletter you can read more about our partnerships, and how they are helping us to operate not only in the aftermath of natural disasters, but to help families made homeless by civil war. And there is one other partnership without which ShelterBox could not achieve its aims – the tireless support of fundraisers, donors and well-wishers who keep this show on the road. Every penny from a school or scout troop, every cheque from an individual or a corporation, every coin in a bucket, every bequest in a will. However you raise the funds, however you give them to us, how much or how little, we are very grateful for your partnership. Thank you,
Mark Nicholson, Editor Former Newsletter Editor Laura Jepson prepared most of this edition’s content. She has now left ShelterBox to work in the field, and we wish her well with her continuing career in humanitarian aid.
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CONTENTS PG 3 Disaster Report
PG 5 Syria – The world’s worst refugee crisis PG 7 Behind the scenes: Working in partnership PG 11 Cyclone Haruna devastates homes in Madagascar PG 13 Shout out for ShelterBox supporters PG 15 Much-needed shelter for families fleeing violence in Myanmar
KEEP IN TOUCH: T: 01326 569782 E: info@shelterbox.org ShelterBox: Water-ma-Trout, Helston, Cornwall, TR13 0LW Editor: Mark Nicholson (markn@shelterbox.org) Front cover image: SRT member Jon Levine (UK) with Syrian child in Akroum, May 2013. Charity No: 1096479 Company No: 4612652 President: HRH The Duchess of Cornwall ShelterBox is a Charity independent of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation.
CONTENTS
PG 17 By special invitation – ShelterBox in the Houses of Parliament
DISASTER REPORT ShelterBox works worldwide providing shelter, warmth and dignity to families who have lost everything following a disaster. Here are a few of our recent deployments.
LEBANON: Conflict
The continuing violence in Syria has forced more than 4 million people from their homes, a million of whom have escaped to neighbouring Iraq, Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon in search of safety. By working closely with a range of in-country partners and the national government, ShelterBox was the first organisation to distribute tents in Lebanon. ShelterBoxes, tailored specially for cold climates, have been distributed to 700 vulnerable families.
MADAGASCAR: Cyclone
The strong winds and torrential rains of Cyclone Haruna destroyed 1,500 houses, leaving nearly 10,000 people homeless. ShelterBoxes already prepositioned in Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo enabled our rapid response. By working closely with Madagascar’s’ disaster agency, response teams were able to reach the worst-affected communities, providing more than 130 families with emergency shelter. Find out more on page 11.
MYANMAR: Conflict
In the north-east of the country tens of thousands of people have fled their homes to escape the violence of what is referred to as the Burmese Civil War. In partnership with the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED), ShelterBox distributed much-needed shelter and equipment to the most vulnerable families. Read the full story on page 15.
DISASTER REPORT
UGANDA: Storm
Severe winds and torrential rains swept houses away in eastern Uganda, leaving more than 1,000 people homeless. Left with nothing, many families were forced to sleep outside. With the help of the Rotary club of Mbale and local aid agency Volunteer to Support Children, ShelterBoxes were distributed to families in need. ‘My family and I are grateful to ShelterBox, which has given us a new life; we can begin again,’ John Kabosi, ShelterBox recipient.
IRAN/ PAKISTAN: Earthquake
In April a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the border regions between Iran and Pakistan. ShelterBox aid has been sent to the Pakistan side of the border at Mashkail Balochistan using stock prepositioned in the country. The aid was distributed by ShelterBox’s implementing partners, the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) and Balochistan Rural Support Programme (BRSP).
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Subscribe to emails about our work by visiting www.shelterbox.org/newsletter. Or see the latest news in video by visiting the ShelterBox YouTube channel www.youtube.com/ShelterBoxUK. Photo: Uganda, May 2013 | Courtesy of the Ugandan Disaster Management Agency
SYRIA
SYRIA REFUGEE CRISIS
THE WORLD’S WORST REFUGEE CRISIS
Photo: Jordan, February 2013 | John Jones
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Foreign Secretary William Hague told the G8 summit earlier this year that the Syrian refugee crisis was ‘on track to be the worst humanitarian disaster of this century’. And it is not just about refugees fleeing across borders to neighbouring countries. A recent report shows that last year Syria was top of the global list of countries where people were internally displaced due to armed conflict and violence. According to the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring (IDMC) report, 2.4 million people became newly displaced within Syria during 2012, taking the total of internally displaced persons (IDPs) around the world to 28.8 million, a record high. ‘The crisis is in its third year and the escalation has gone beyond a tipping point,’ said IDMC spokeswoman Clare Spurrell. ‘The internally displaced are completely reliant on others, but host communities are themselves suffering from a lack of food, and diseases are breaking out… It’s the fastest evolving internal displacement crisis at the moment in the world.’ The exodus of refugees inundating Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq is daunting enough, but it is the homeless within Syria’s borders who are the hardest to reach, the hardest to help. Most have fled their homes in terror, carrying minimal possessions. But wherever they have run to they are still in potential war zones, subject to possible hostility, sniping or looting. Aid agencies, ShelterBox among them, are having to be very cautious about reaching into Syria. ShelterBox Response Teams (SRTs) are exploring possible collaborative ways of delivering the aid to IDPs within Syria. They are experiencing first-hand some of the security challenges. ‘Within the first few days of arriving in the region there was a Syrian air force cluster bomb attack about 500 metres from an IDP camp and 15 miles from our hotel,’ said SRT member Max Hogg. Another incident happened further east where Syrians who were prevented from exiting the country exchanged fire with border guards, raising concerns that the conflict could spill over into neighbouring countries.
‘Despite these attacks, we are going to continue to look for ways of getting the ShelterBox aid to help families in need in Syria by talking to various other non-governmental organisations working in the area.’ ShelterBox aid sent includes water purification equipment, water carriers, insect nets, solar lamps, kitchen sets and SchoolBoxes containing children’s packs and activities. There are fears that tents supplied in the familiar green ShelterBoxes may draw attention, making displaced families a target for snipers or looters. So, difficult choices have had to be made about which items can safely be distributed without endangering the recipients. It is thanks to the support of our donors that ShelterBox can continue to pursue operational and logistical solutions to this complex situation.
BEHIND THE SCENES: WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP
Some of the agencies we have worked with include UNICEF, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Societies, Save the Children, Oxfam, World Vision, and the International Organisation for Migration.
BEHIND THE SCENES: WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP
As well as international aid agencies, ShelterBox also works with national governments, the military, and numerous local and regional organisations. Wherever we are in the world, we are never far from Rotary Club support. And Scout groups are often on hand, as in our photo opposite from Peru. ‘When humanitarian organisations work together, they are better able to identify gaps, and avoid duplication, in the distribution of aid. This joined up approach also enables us to utilise each other’s strengths and share expertise, knowledge and resources, which ultimately ensures we reach more people in need and in a more efficient and cost-effective way,’ says Ross Preston, Head of ShelterBox Operations. Local partners key to response in Lebanon Of the five countries currently hosting Syrian refugees, the small nation of Lebanon has the highest number. In order to best address the needs of refugee families, ShelterBox is working closely with 27 local organisations. ‘These organisations are based in the affected communities and have been providing humanitarian assistance there since the conflict began two years ago, therefore their local knowledge is invaluable in ensuring ShelterBox aid is delivered effectively,’ says Phil Duloy, ShelterBox Operations Coordinator. ShelterBox Response Team member, Gerry de Vries, adds: ‘Most important is the vital role of our local partners in identifying the most vulnerable families. It is inspiring to see their integrity, commitment and diligence when discussing and deciding which families will receive aid - an important, but often heart breaking role.
Reaching remote areas in Myanmar with ACTED ShelterBox, in partnership with the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED), helped families displaced by fighting in the north of Myanmar. ‘In a country like Myanmar there are layers of bureaucracy and delicate political negotiations to be had, says Alison Ashlin, ShelterBox Operations Coordinator. ‘Moreover, many of the displaced families live in remote areas close to the Chinese border. Travel within Myanmar is highly restricted so one of the many advantages of working with ACTED is that they employ Myanmar nationals whose could access the affected communities on our behalf,’ Alison adds. Read more about our partnership work in Myanmar on pages 15 and 16.
Photo: Peru, May 2012 | Emily Spirling
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Lebanon is a small country overwhelmed by the Syrian refugee crisis. Although its government has a presumption against refugee camps, it allowed ShelterBox to be the first aid agency to distribute tents to help displaced families. In a complex and sensitive operation, this has been achieved with the help of 27 distribution partners. This photo shows one such discreet distribution in the Bekaa Valley.
LEBANON
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Photo: Lebanon, April 2013 | Mike Greenslade
CYCLONE DEVASTATES HOMES IN MADAGASCAR When Cyclone Haruna hit south-western Madagascar it brought gusts of wind reaching speeds of over 200 kilometres per hour and heavy rains. It caused floods that destroyed more than 9,000 hectares of farm land and 1,500 houses, leaving nearly 10,000 people homeless.
‘This is the worst flood since 1978’, said Colonal Miha from Madagascar’s National Bureau for Risk and Disaster Management agency (BNGRC). ‘It’s hard to imagine the hardship here unless you witness it with your own eyes. We have been barely surviving.’ Madagascar’s desolate landscape and limited road access made transporting aid to those in need in hard-to-reach areas a huge challenge.
Photo: Madagascar, March 2013
However, ShelterBox’s previous experience of working in the country having responded to multiple cyclones, the strong partnership between ShelterBox and BNGRC, plus ShelterBoxes already pre-positioned in Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo meant we were able to help more than 130 vulnerable families.
Photo: Madagascar, February 2013 | Courtesy of Ancient Path - www.ancientpath.com
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In the village of Ambosab, Lanorhiy Rasoanantenaina and her family were among many who lost their homes. The cyclone’s heavy rains caused a nearby dyke to collapse, which created a tsunami-type flood carrying tonnes of sand and soil. ‘It was early, about 6am, when we heard people shouting, ‘The water is coming, the water is coming.’ We were then hit by massive waves. It washed away all our goods, belongings and our home; we lost everything. We just ran and swam away from our house with nothing. All we own in the world has gone, washed away’, said Lanorhiy. When ShelterBox Response Team member Peter Pearce met the Rasoanantenaina family, they were living under a tarpaulin amongst 55 other families in a local schoolyard:
‘On arrival we were overwhelmed by the stench in the air - the remnants of what the flood had left behind. The school’s roof was totally destroyed. Lanorhiy, her sister and four-day-old niece were huddled together under one of the tarpaulins; they had to share it with two other families’. Working closely with Madagascar’s disaster management agency, ShelterBox set up a camp on a nearby football field for the families. ‘There are no words to describe the feeling of seeing families receive the shelter they so desperately need. The families had such great strength I couldn’t help but feel admiration for them,’ said Peter. For the latest news about ShelterBox’s disaster relief work in Madagascar and around the world, visit www.shelterbox.org
MADAGASCAR CYCLONE
LANORHIY’S STORY…
SHOUT OUT FOR SHELTERBOX SUPPORTERS We continue to be inspired by the passion, dedication and originality of our supporters across the UK and Ireland. Quite simply, without their hard work we couldn’t reach out year after year to thousands of families made homeless by disaster. Here are just some of the ways our wonderful ShelterBox supporters have put the ‘fun’ into fundraising.
Topshop bracelets for disaster relief
Father and sons take on Kilimanjaro Rotarian David Johnston and his two sons, Nick and Tom, are hoping to raise £5,000 for ShelterBox by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Trekking for seven days, sometimes up to 12 hours per day, to reach the summit they have a strict training regime ahead before they depart in October. We wish them the best of luck! More details and how to donate at www.johnstoncharityclimb. wordpress.com.
In November, High Street fashion brand Topshop teamed up with ShelterBox and designed four charm bracelets to raise funds for ShelterBox’s disaster relief efforts. For every bracelet sold, £1 will go towards helping families made homeless by disaster. There’s still time to buy a bracelet and show your support - just hurry before they all sell out!
Telegraph appeal a huge success ShelterBox was one of three organisations chosen to benefit from the Telegraph’s Christmas Charity Appeal. As well as raising awareness about our disaster relief work, the appeal raised an incredible £241,600.38 for ShelterBox. ‘On behalf of everyone at ShelterBox and the families we help, I’d like to say a huge thank you to Telegraph readers who made the appeal a success,’ said ShelterBox Chief Executive Alison Wallace.
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Georgiana’s cake sale success
Support our summer 2013 events
8-year-old Georgiana from Hayle, Cornwall, held her 4th annual cake sale in aid of ShelterBox. She got all her friends and family involved and raised a wonderful £170! What a super star!
4 AUGUST RIDE LONDON
Every year, hundreds of Scouts head to London for the ShelterBox Scavenger Hunt, where they explore the capital and learn more about our disaster relief work. Now, Scout groups around the country are using our new ‘how to’ guide to run a Scavenger Hunt in their local area. The guide provides groups with everything they need, including step-by-step instructions, tips and materials. Download your ‘how to’ guide at www.youngshelterbox.org.
10 AUGUST OPEN DAY
Your chance to go behind the scenes of this international disaster relief charity and see how your support makes a difference. Find out how ShelterBoxes are packed and delivered, learn about our Young ShelterBox projects, discover how we track weather related disasters with the Met Office, and speak to ShelterBox Response Team volunteers about their front line experiences.
18 AUGUST PRAA SANDS RAFT RACE
The annual Praa Sands Pirate Raft Race is back and bigger than ever! Now in its 6th year, this year’s event will see 30 rafts of all shapes and sizes taking to the high seas. There’s live music, a licensed beach bar, stalls and entertainment for all the family.
SHOUT OUT FOR SHELTERBOX SUPPORTERS
Scavenger Hunt for Scouts goes national
25,000 people will become part of cycling history as they undertake the brand new 100 mile Ride from London to Surrey. ShelterBox has two entrants, and will have a cheer point on the route – why not come along to encourage our fantastic riders?
SHELTER FOR FAMILIES FLEEING VIOLENCE IN MYANMAR Fighting between the Kachin Independence Army and Myanmar Army restarted after a 17-year-old ceasefire broke down. In the north-east of the country, tens of thousands of people have fled their homes to escape the violence of what is referred to as the Burmese Civil War. ‘We have been monitoring the deteriorating situation in Myanmar over the past few months and have seen the violence escalate and displacement increase,’ said Alison Ashlin, ShelterBox Operations Coordinator. A ShelterBox Response Team, along with 448 ShelterBoxes, travelled to the country. Working closely with humanitarian agencies, including the United Nations and the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED), the team conducted detailed assessments to ensure the aid reached the most vulnerable families.
MYAMAR CONFLICT
‘I am very pleased with the ShelterBox partnership and would like to express gratitude to ShelterBox and its donors for the aid that has been sent,’ said ACTED Country Director Kyphong Nguyen. ‘It will alleviate the suffering of this population that has been displaced for almost two years and whose plight has received relatively little international media attention.’ For the latest news about ShelterBox’s disaster relief work in Myanmar and around the world, visit www.shelterbox.org.
SITNOUPAN’S STORY… When the gunmen attacked the village where Sitnoupan’s parents lived, her mother was five months pregnant with her. Their home was burnt to the ground and their animals were slaughtered. Forced to leave, they took very few possessions with them and fled to the jungle where they hid for months.
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Myanmar, they walked for days with other families from surrounding villages. However, on the outskirts of the town they were stopped by the military and sent back to the jungle. Two days later they tried again, this time under the cover of darkness. They successfully arrived at the camp and Sitnoupan was born the following month. Alison Ashlin, ShelterBox Operations Coordinator, said: ‘When we met Sitnoupan’s family they were living in a communal shelter, with no privacy, along with 16 other families. Lying on a mat, the mother was suffering from a fever, whilst the father was caring for the two-month-old baby. It is shocking to think that these are the lucky ones, because there are many more families still hiding in the jungle, and the rainy season is just a month away.’
They made a basic shelter using banana leaves and foraged for food. On hearing about a camp in Myitkyina, a city in northern
She added: ‘Despite the challenges that the people of Myanmar have faced over the years, I have been touched by their kindness and dignity’.
Photo: Myanmar, March 2013 | Alison Ashlin
BY SPECIAL INVITATION ShelterBox staff and supporters rubbed shoulders with MPs, Ministers and Lords as they accepted an invitation to mount a display in the Upper Waiting Hall above Westminster’s famous Central Lobby. The invitation was prompted by the Rt Hon Alan Duncan MP, Minister of State for International Development, and Sarah Newton MP for Truro & Falmouth. Exhibitions in this prestigious location are considered only if nominated by both a Minister and an MP.
BY SPECIAL INVITATION
Minister Alan Duncan told the BBC, ‘If you can take something like the kit inside a ShelterBox rapidly to a disaster you can give people what they need to live, straight away, all in this clever package which comes from Cornwall. What could be better than that? - where my Mother came from. So, it’s Go ShelterBox!’
L to R: Sarah Newton MP, Rt Hon Alan Duncan MP and Alison Wallace.
Among ShelterBox supporters present at a special Opening Ceremony reception were Cornish rower and Olympic silver medallist Annie Vernon, who last September organised the Cornish Rowing Challenge event. Alison Wallace, Chief Executive of ShelterBox, called the exhibition, ‘An excellent shop window for ShelterBox, a chance to describe our disaster relief work to an influential audience including MPs and Ministers, government officials and media correspondents.’
HERE ARE SOME WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT SHELTERBOX Buy ShelterBox goodies in our shop Our online shop has a wide range of ShelterBox goodies, including mugs, teddies, jute bags, clothing, and our Global Gifts for your friends and family. Items start from just ÂŁ1.50! Go to www.shelterboxshop.org.uk Consider leaving a gift in your Will We know that loved ones come first when making a Will, but once you have included the people you care about, you may want to remember the causes you care about. Gifts in Wills are a lasting way to support our work and every gift that ShelterBox receives, large or small, will help disaster-affected families for years to come. Recommend ShelterBox to your company From payroll giving to corporate donations, staff fundraising to Charity of the Year programmes, supporting ShelterBox through your workplace is a great way to motivate and engage staff whilst supporting a fantastic cause. For more information about any of the above, or to find out other ways you can support ShelterBox, contact our fundraising team on 01326 569782 or by emailing fundraising@shelterbox.org
Photos: Houses of Parliament, May 2013 | Liam Arthur
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