ShelterBox representatives from UK, Denmark, Germany, Philippines, USA, Australia, Indonesia and Belgium are in Thailand at the Rotary International (RI) Convention in Bangkok manning the ShelterBox stand. 

This is the first Convention since Rotary made ShelterBox their first project partner: 

‘We Rotarians pride ourselves on being the first to arrive when help is needed – and the last to leave,' said RI President Kalyan Banerjee at the opening plenary session. 'By partnering with ShelterBox we’ll be able to do even more.’ 

Rotarians gather at the annual conference to celebrate past accomplishments and future friendships. 

Julien Rodolphe Fils Debrosse is a Rotarian from Haiti. He sought out the ShelterBox team to give his thanks for all of the aid that had been delivered following the earthquake of January 2010. Working for the American Red Cross Julien manages healthcare programmes and has seen the difference that ShelterBox equipment continues to make two and half years after the disaster. 

Many other Rotarians who have assisted with the delivery of ShelterBoxes following disasters in countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Madagascar came to meet Founder Tom Henderson and share their stories.

Cédric Neuville is a ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) volunteer based in France and travelled to the Republic of the Congo to assist with the distribution of tents and other life-saving equipment. 

‘This is my first deployment so far with ShelterBox. I got a great feeling helping these people in the areas directly affected by the explosion, close to their homes, so they can have a shelter during this rainy season. Families can now return to their homes and begin to rebuild their lives. The SRT, working closely with Rotarians from all three Brazzaville clubs and staff from SDV Congo-Bolloré Africa Logistics, will continue this process of pitching tents directly in the affected zone.’

The team has been working with the local communities and training them to pitch tents enabling them to be part of the solution.  So far 64 families have been sheltered and hundreds more tents are in the process of being distributed.

Following the explosion many families were separated and allowing them to return to their own land with a safe shelter to sleep in is assisting in reuniting communities. Cédric spoke with Sobonko Augustine whose children are currently living with her brother’s wife 

Cédric added: ‘My thanks go out to all ShelterBox supporters around the world, whose support has had a huge and positive impact on the people of the Republic of the Congo.'

A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) carrying out a needs assessment in Fiji has found that affected communities are cut off by high floodwaters. The flooding has caused extensive damage to roads and bridges making aid delivery conditions challenging.

There is widespread damage to infrastructure in the western part of the south pacific island where thousands of families have been made homeless. 

The main cities Sigatoka, Nadi, Lautoka, Tavua, Ba and Rakiraki are the worst hit areas and have been flooded by up to two metres of water in places. 

SRT members Lyndon Tamblyn (NZ) and Sally Fletcher (NZ) have had logistical support from local Rotary and Fiji's disaster management agency DISMAC, including local knowledge of the affected area and transport.

Thousands of homes have been damaged on the largest island of Viti Levu forcing around 8,000 people into evacuation centres. Water andelectricity have been cut off in some areas.

The floods are 'three to four times worse' than the last devastating floods in 2009, according to the South Pacific nation's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who has called for a solution to the country's flooding problems.

'We are consulting with several key players, including Rotary in Suva, DISMAC (Fijian disaster management agency), Red Cross and the New Zealand Government to coordinate an appropriate and rapid response,' said ShelterBox International Director Lasse Petersen.

SRT members Lyndon Tamblyn (NZ) and Sally Fletcher (NZ) will arrive in Fiji to begin the needs assessment on 5 April.

'This will be my second deployment to Fiji as I was part of the Response Team that responded to Hurricane Tomas that hit in 2009,' saidLyndon. 'The Rotarians and government officials who assisted us then are helping us now and will provide valuable logistical support with transport and language.'

Reports showed cars, ships and buildings being swept away with waves of up to ten metres high slamming into the coast.  Fires raged out of control and fissures cracked the land.  Almost 15,900 people lost their lives and at least 500,000 people were made homeless by the disaster.

Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan described it as the worst crisis the country had faced since World War Two: ‘This earthquake and tsunami and also the situation concerning the nuclear power stations are perhaps the hardest hardship that we have experienced after World War Two.’

A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) was mobilised just over one hour after the disaster struck. Further teams were also on standby in case the tsunami hit other countries.

Within 24 hours

Within 24 hours, the hugely experienced SRT members Lasse Petersen (AU), Mark Pearson (UK), John Diksa (FR) and David Eby (US), were on the ground. They immediately began working with the local authorities to assess the areas of most need for disaster relief.

'We were faced with a unique set of circumstances dealing with the effects of an earthquake, a tsunami and then a potential nuclear incident in the cold Japanese winter,' said Lasse. 'Our efforts focussed on Japan's north where the worst affected areas were.'

Sendai was one of the largest cities struck by the tsunami. Evacuation centres in the area were spilling over. In Yamamoto, a town near Sendai, SRT members Ian Neal (UK) and Mark Dyer (US) found 30 families living in cars outside one centre that was full. They had lost everything when the tsunami hit and they had been living in their cars in the freezing weather. ShelterBoxes were delivered to the families restoring their dignity as they began to rebuild their lives.

'Homes destroyed'

One of the people to move into a ShelterBox tent with eight of his relatives was 80-year old Toshi Iche Iwasa. He had been living in his vehicle with two other family members. At the time of the disaster, he was picking strawberries at a small family farm:

'In the 80 years of my life I have experienced many earthquakes but nothing like this one. I fell to the ground to take cover but couldn't pick myself up again. My wife was only able to crawl across to me.

'As soon as we heard the tsunami warning we headed straight to our car and drove for higher ground. Although our homes were completely destroyed I feel lucky that we are all safe and together.'

Mark Dyer said: ‘It was great to move Mr Iwasa and his family into one of our tents. He was so excited to talk to his family and let them know they could start living together. 

‘He was amazed that donors from all over the world work with ShelterBox to bring this type of lifesaving equipment to people who lose everything in a disaster. He just kept saying Arigato (thank you) ShelterBox.’

ShelterBox Founder and CEO Tom Henderson said: ‘My message to people has always been; do something, don’t do nothing, we can all make a difference. As with every disaster, we saw people around the world act with generosity and compassion which helped us make a difference in Japan and in disaster zones across the globe - thank you.’

Local Rotarians and authorities provided vital logistical support to ShelterBox, enabling the charity to respond quickly and efficiently. Overall 1,680 ShelterBoxes were delivered to the Asian country and 18 SRT members were deployed, bringing shelter, warmth and dignity to thousands of displaced people. 

SRT member Pat Prendergast (UK) was part of the second team that was on the ground. Find out more about his experiences in the video below.

[Video available online] 

Chris Alderson acted as a guide and translator for Response Teams during the disaster in Japan. Following the disaster and inspired by the work that ShelterBox does, he trained to become an SRT member himself.  Read his personal account of his experience helping ShelterBox in Japan here.

'The earthquake happened during lunch. I never got to eat as my lunch fell on the floor. Mum was at school and took my brother, sister and me and we ran to the hills as we were told there was going to be a tsunami. We slept in the hills that night and were all scared. Next day we returned to our village and discovered our house was totally destroyed. The following nights we stayed under a tarpaulin with 70 other people from our village. 

'I was scared the earth would open up and swallow me and my family. There were aftershocks during the middle of the night and we all woke up terrified, praying for the shakes to stop.' 

A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) has been distributing aid in Jimalalud, La Libertad and Guihulngan, areas in the southern province of Negros Oriental. Heather and her family are now living comfortably in a ShelterBox tent as they rebuild their home and their lives.

'Salamat (thank you)'

SRT member Rikke Jacobsen (DK) said: ' Heather kept on saying 'salamat' (thank you) to us for giving her and her family a new home. She danced around the tent and was so happy. Watching the smiles of the people we at ShelterBox have helped here makes me so thankful and proud to a part of the disaster relief charity.' 

Rogelio is a farmer whose house was buried by a landslide near Salongon, where 42 people died. Before he was delivered a ShelterBox tent for him, his wife and children to live in, they had been sleeping without shelter and were unable to get food for several days. 

'My wife and I were having lunch when the earthquake happened,' said Rogelio. 'The table fell down on my wife's lap and then we heard rumbling. I took my wife's hand and we ran away from the house as quickly as we could. When we finally stopped and looked back the whole house was gone. Luckily our kids were at school but we lost our life savings in seconds.' 

'We are so incredibly thankful for the help we have received from ShelterBox. We want to say a big thank you to the donors across the world who paid for it as well as the SRT members who delivered it.' 
The need for emergency shelter in Negros Oriental has been met with 69 tents distributed in total, bringing shelter, warmth and dignity to the disaster-affected families.

'Challenging deployment'

'This is by far the most challenging deployment I've ever been on logistically, physically, mentally and emotionally,' said SRT member Abner Tayco (PH). 'We have been hiking mountains and hills and crossing streams to find people who are in need of help. But as soon you see those smiles once they move into a ShelterBox tent we know ShelterBox has made a difference in their life.'

See the latest slideshow of photos from the deployment on ShelterBox's Flickr page here.

The earthquake caused giant waves that not only destroyed fishing villages along the coast but also caused two major landslides that resulted in another two villages being buried killing at least 65 people. Major roads and bridges have also been destroyed and aftershocks are being felt on a daily basis. 

The local government has also helped the Response Team with vital logistical support.

'The help that ShelterBox has given to the people of my district is tremendous,' said Congress woman Joselyn. 'We really appreciate the SRT members giving their valuable time to help us - thank you.' 

The team has distributed 41 tents to date bringing shelter, warmth and dignity to many families. They are now heading to Planas where the other landslide hit to distribute a further 15 tents.

Lost their homes

Consequently, thousands of people have been affected and many have lost their homes. Rikke and Abner have been distributing shelter in the towns of Jimalalud, La Libertad and Guihulngan using residual stocks transported from Mindanao. 

'We have been setting up ShelterBox tents to help the families who lost their homes along the coastal villages and also in La Libertad where one of the landslides happened,' said Rikke. 'Local Rotarians from Dumaguete, Dumaguete South and Dumaguete North travelled almost three hours to help us put up the tents - their help has been invaluable.' 

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