Relief: Syrian Crisis & Other Disasters

Thank you for helping ShelterBox provide emergency tented shelter and supplies to families that have lost their homes and possessions following natural disasters and conflict around the world, and allowing them to rebuild their lives with dignity and in safety.

ShelterBox continues to respond to natural disasters and conflict across the globe. Your support has helped ShelterBox deliver boxes and other emergency supplies to Syrian families that continue to flee to neighboring countries as a result of the ongoing conflict and violence in the country, as well as families impacted by the typhoon in the Philippines and the flooding in Bolivia and Zimbabwe.

Syrian Crisis

It’s been three years since the conflict broke out in Syria. Over 9 million people have been forced from their homes in the war-torn country having been exposed to violence and unremitting fighting. The majority now remains within the borders with no home to go to and no possessions. Over 2.5 million refugees, three quarters of them being women and children, still seek safety and shelter across neighboring countries.

The vast majority of fleeing families arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs. Many are injured from continuous bombing and shelling. They have no regular food and no income. Men, women and children are suffering through no fault of their own. They are in desperate need of shelter and other vital supplies. ShelterBox has sent aid to support over 5,000 families in Syria, Iraqi Kurdistan, Lebanon and Jordan in some truly challenging situations.

In Syria we are working with aid agencies who are acting as our partners, delivering essential aid to families fleeing conflict, including emergency shelter, blankets, water filtration equipment and carriers, cooking utensils, mosquito nets and children’s activity packs. ShelterBox continues to work with multiple implementing partners across various hubs to deliver much needed emergency shelter to vulnerable families in need.

Your support has provided hope, comfort and a sense of normalcy to those who would otherwise be living in fear - thank you.

Philippines

In November 2013, the Philippines was hit by Super Typhoon Haiyan, with winds of 195mph, leaving thousands of people homeless. To date, ShelterBox has distributed shelter to help 6,200 families in need of shelter and assistance.

It has been four months since the typhoon made landfall and communities have begun rebuilding their homes. Even businesses have reopened using ShelterBox toolkits sourced from prepositioned stock nearby.

With your help, ShelterBox response teams continue to work in the country, identifying ongoing needs and assisting with the transition to the recovery phase.

Bolivia

ShelterBox has sent aid from its prepositioned stock in Panama to help flood survivors in Bolivia rebuild their lives following relentless heavy rains and mudslides. Tens of thousands of people have been forced from their homes across the northwest of the land-locked Latin American country by widespread flooding; many have also lost loved ones.

Santa Cruz, Beni, La Paz and Cochabamba are the regions predominantly affected by the extreme weather. People have lost their livelihoods as crops have been damaged and cattle injured. Sixty percent of the roads are spoiled isolating communities from basic services like food, water and fuel. As opposed to sending aid from the ShelterBox headquarters warehouse in the UK, prepositioned ShelterBoxes have been sent from Panama, Central America, enabling the aid to reach the Bolivian communities rapidly and efficiently helping them begin to rebuild their lives.

Zimbabwe

ShelterBox is responding to flooding in Zimbabwe’s Masvingo province, following unusual heavy rains that have forced over 2,000 families to uproot their homes, taking with them only the few possessions they can carry.

The families had been living along the river basin near the partially constructed Tokwe Murkosi dam. Incessant rains, rare during this time of year, created fears that the dam would overflow. Instead, the river caused severe flooding that has damaged thousands of homes positioned along it.

ShelterBox, working with partners, will be providing 800 tents to the area to help flood survivors. It has been estimated that a further 60,000 people downstream from the disaster area are reported to be at risk of flooding if the rain persists.