www.shelterbox.org.nz
No: CC32820
18 December, 2012
ShelterBox responds to Cyclone Evan in Fiji

A ShelterBox Response Team from New Zealand consisting of Owen Smith from Kerikeri and Ross McKenzie from Auckland will leave for Suva tomorrow (subs 19 December) to assess the need in Fiji following the devastation of Cyclone Evan. Yesterday (subs 17 December) ShelterBox also sent a response team to Samoa, with ShelterBoxes pre-positioned in Samoa and Fiji allowing for rapid responses in both nations.

ShelterBox is an international not-for-profit organisation that provides emergency accommodation and other survival essentials to disaster victims. ShelterBox aid is delivered in pre-packaged kits - the 'ShelterBox' – that are designed to help an extended family to survive the aftermath of a disaster for at least six months. The kits contain a disaster relief tent for an extended family, stove, blankets and water filtration system, and other tools for survival.

“ShelterBox is very concerned by media reports of the destruction in Fiji caused by Cyclone Evan,” said ShelterBox NZ’s Communications Director, Mike Cahill. “We are well prepared to respond, however, and will be doing everything we can to deploy ShelterBoxes quickly and effectively.”

Owen Smith is an advanced Shelter Box Response Team member and one of 200 specially trained Shelter Box volunteers around the world who are deployed to areas that that have been struck by disasters. Owen has previously been deployed in Bangladesh, Samoa, Indonesia, Tibet & China, Colombia, Haiti, Kenya and the Philippines.

Ross Mackenzie graduated from the ShelterBox Training Academy in Cornwall, UK in 2009. Since then he has been deployed to the Philippines to support families in the aftermath of Typhoon Morakot, and to Madagascar in the aftermath of a destructive cyclone caused loss of life and widespread damage to the former French colony.

Since its creation in 2000 when it sent a consignment of 143 boxes to earthquake victims in the Indian state of Gujarat, ShelterBox has established affiliates in 20 countries around the world, including New Zealand. More than a million people have now receiveded ‘shelter, warmth and dignity’ from ShelterBox.

Donations to support ShelterBox’s disaster response efforts can be made through “Givealittle”, the Telecom Foundation free online fundraising tool. It’s fast, safe and easy to use and where 100% of every donation is given to the charity.

The donation hotline is at: www.givealittle.co.nz/org/shelterbox

ENDS

About SHELTERBOX
In the aftermath of a disaster ShelterBox instantly responds by providing shelter, warmth and dignity to people displaced or made homeless by disaster. The ShelterBox solution provides the essentials that a family needs to survive and begin rebuilding their lives.
1. ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity that provides humanitarian aid to families who have been made homeless or displaced through disasters.
2. ShelterBox was founded in 2000 and has affiliates in 21 countries around the world.
3. ShelterBox is a ‘Rotary Project Partner’ of Rotary International.
4. ShelterBox is funded entirely by public donations.
5. Every ShelterBox is individually numbered and donors who donate a ShelterBox are advised of their identification number when they are sent a receipt. The final destination of boxes can then be tracked via our website.
6. NZ ShelterBox Response Teams (SRTs) are available for interview
7. Photos from NZ SRT deployments and others are available.

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

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