ShelterBox News January 2014

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ShelterBox News: January 2014

Photo credit: Joseph A Ferris III, Young Pioneer Disaster Response. An aerial view of Santa Fe, Bantayan island, Philippines. Families live in ShelterBox tents whilst rebuilding their homes that were destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan, January 2014.

Dear supporters,

We would like to wish you a very happy new year and also say a big 'thank you' from all the families you've helped shelter. Your support continues to make a huge difference. In this newsletter we'll introduce you to some of the families you've helped in the Philippines and Lebanon so you can see the incredible impact you're having on their lives.

It's already been a busy start to the year. We're very thankful to have supporters like you to help us bring new homes and new hope to families who, through no fault of their own, have lost their houses, livelihoods and possessions.

In just over two months you've helped us bring vital aid to over 4,300 families who lost their homes to the devastating Typhoon Haiyan - again, thank you.

We've also been continuing to shelter families fleeing conflict in Syria. With the region suffering one of it's harshest winters in over a century, the conditions Syrian refugees face are more perilous than ever.

To help vulnerable families survive this crisis we have been providing a winterised shelter solution including thermally-lined tents, warm blankets and groundsheets to protect against sub-zero termaperatures and winter storms. You can still help us bring families in from the cold here.

Your support is making an incredible difference to the lives of families who have lost everyting. As always, we cannot thank you enough for your loyal support.

Philippines - Typhoon Haiyan

Whilst heavy rains hamper relief efforts even more in Tacloban, the hardest hit area by Typhoon Haiyan, families on the small island of Kinatarcan are nestling together in their ShelterBox tents, putting up picket fences and calling them ‘home’. Read more here.

Lebanon - Syria conflict

‘This tent is closed so it is much better, protecting us all from the bad weather... It’s much warmer... We are more comfortable and we feel safer and our children are safer.’ Read more of how ShelterBox is bringing aid to Syrian refugee families, like Ahed's, in Lebanon.

Sudan - Flooding

ShelterBox has provided emergency education support for communities affected by severe flooding in parts of Sudan’s White Nile state last summer, distributing SchoolBoxes containing stationery packs to displaced schoolchildren through implementing partner Plan. More here.

When resources are few and far between a creative solution can always be found. Two upended benches saved manpower and made do in absence of heavy machinery in Philippines, January 2013.

Innovation

Not only does ShelterBox aim to bring shelter and other vital aid to communities affected by humanitarian crises as effectively as possible but we're also constantly improving the quality of our aid. Learn about our new solar lamps and water filters here.

Collaboration

ShelterBox has been working with Plan, a charity that specialises in promoting and protecting the rights of children, to help bring shelter to vulnerable families in Leyte, Philippines, like Diana's. You can read more about how she lost her home in the typhoon on our website.

Syria blog

Check out the latest blog posts from our Response Team volunteers and staff members who have brought shelter and other vital aid to Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Iraqi Kurdistan, as international efforts to bring peace to Syria are underway in Switzerland with 40 foreign ministers.

ShelterBox around the world

Valentine's Day in the USA

German-born designer Stephan G. Butcher has chosen ShelterBox USA to receive 100% of the net proceeds from sales of his 'Love Cells' collection, a series of cards hand-drawn by him for Valentine's Day. Find out where you can buy one of these beautiful cards to brighten up your loved one's day here.

Rotarian walks 630 miles for ShelterBox

At aged 63, Rotarian David Harvey is planning to walk 630 miles in just 43 days along England's South West coast path whilst raising funds for ShelterBox. You can sponsor him here.