Shelterboxes bought for Haiti

Each shelter box costs 500 and the club has forwarded 2,000 for four boxes. This goes along with a similar massive response from Rotary clubs throughout Ireland.

Rotary International has been a long time supporter of the Shelterbox organisation. Shelterbox is an international disaster relief charity which provides a practical and rapid response to emergencies occurring anywhere in the world and in particular through providing immediate shelter, warmth and dignity to people affected.

Over many years they have provided immediate practical relief in the aftermath of major disasters.

So in the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake, the Shelterbox charity had a unique contribution to make. The charity swung into action immediately and a three person team was dispatched to Port au Prince within 48 hours.

Since then over 2,000 shelter boxes have been sent to Haiti and have formed part of a tent city near the airport and near the centre of the capital with staff and volunteers on the ground working along side other aid organisations.

A spokesman for Shelterbox has said that this is the greatest challenge they have ever met with one million persons homeless and in desperate need for emergency shelter.

A shelter box is a large, light weight and durable box which contains a range of items vital for sustaining life and health in the aftermath of a disaster. Each shelter box contains the following items:

A 10 person tent, custom made by Vango to a high specification; survival equipment including thermal blankets, insulated ground sheets, mosquito nets as required; a water purification system, always vitally important; a basic tool kit including a hammer, saw, axe and much else; a wood burning/ multi fuel stove; cooking essentials to include pans, pots bowls etc; a children’s pack to replace things children may have lost.

Members of the public seeking further information on the Shelter Box charity can do so on their website www.shelterbox.org