ShelterBox heads to Russia to help latest flood victims

Media Release
For immediate use

18 July 2012

ShelterBox heads to Russia to help latest flood victims

More funds needed to keep the ShelterBoxes full - Donate at www.shelterbox.org.nz

As wild weather beats its way around the globe, ShelterBox has sent 150 emergency ShelterBoxes, 50 tents and a ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) to help devastated families in the worst affected areas of Krasnodar in Russia, the latest region to be affected by severe flooding.

Local Rotarians report thousands of damaged and destroyed homes, with families taking refuge on rooftops and in trees.

ShelterBox New Zealand Director, Mike Cahill explained: “ShelterBoxes contain a tent plus lifesaving supplies for families left with nothing through disaster. The extra tents mean volunteers currently clearing flood debris can stay longer and help.

“The whole world has witnessed extremes of weather during the last few months and thousands of families have found themselves left with nothing. ShelterBoxes, our emergency response teams and Rotarians in the affected areas are helping families at a time of utmost need”.

To keep up with demand, ShelterBox New Zealand is working to raise funds. Every ShelterBox contains items a family needs to survive in the aftermath of a disaster - tent, stove, water purification equipment, tools, blankets and more. Each box costs $1500 to fill and nothing is wasted – even the box gets used, often turned into a cradle for the babies while families rebuild their lives.

A global organisation, ShelterBox in New Zealand is run by a dedicated team of Rotary volunteers across the North and South Islands. Our own Kiwi emergency team has been deployed in a number of countries including Fiji, Japan, the Philippines - and here at home following the Christchurch earthquakes.

Mike added: “Last year, ShelterBox deployed to a disaster or emergency somewhere in the world every two weeks! That’s an enormous number of families left with nothing and reliant on the generosity of their neighbours around the world. ShelterBoxes are constantly in demand and it costs around $1500 to fill each one. This means our fundraising efforts are continual so we can maintain these essential supplies”.

Anyone can donate to help families around the world at their time of greatest need by clicking on the ‘donate’ buttons at: www.shelterbox.org.nz.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

SHELTERBOX
ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for families around the world affected by disasters at the time when they need it the most. The goal is to help 50,000 families every year. In the 11 years since ShelterBox was founded, we have responded to almost 200 natural or manmade disasters in over 75 different countries and provided lifesaving aid for well over one million people.

To find out more, visit www.shelterbox.org.nz.

ENDS

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