Shelter Box

 

Take Syria as an example. Whilst we have seen the conflict dynamics in Syria show a general trend towards stabilisation, there have been periodic regional escalations which serve as a reminder that the potential for the situation to descend into active conflict remains.

 

The current Syrian crisis is compounded by a series of factors and events that interlink to create significant suffering to the resident population including the ongoing threat of hostilities, including sporadic artillery and air strikes; the regional economic crisis which has seen the dominant currency in Idlib (the Turkish Lira) depreciate significantly; the effects of Covid-19; and environmental factors such as drought, seasonal flooding and wildfires. With the occurrence of the recent earthquakes, complexity takes on a whole new meaning.

 

In a complex world, we need to remain flexible and adaptable to meet ever-changing needs. Over the next few months, you will read how our aid, and how we source and deliver it, is changing.

 

This month's quote comes from Alan Perlis, "Fools ignore complexity. Pragmatists suffer it. Some can avoid it. Geniuses remove it.
 

Thanks for being part of the team. Stay safe.

Mike Greenslade
CEO ShelterBox Australia

 

The ReliefAid teams are distributing warm winter jackets to community centres in the camps in northern Syria

 

In northern Syria, with our existing partner, Bahar, Project 1 aims to support 992 earthquake affected households in the Aleppo area. The aid package consists of tents, blankets and mattresses, solar lights, water carriers, the construction of tent bases, and cash assistance.

A second ‘lighter’ project with our existing partner, ReliefAid, is now complete. We have provided 6,000 blankets and mattresses (4 of each to each family) to support new arrivals into displacement camps in Idlib. Beyond the emergency phase of this response, we will be scoping additional opportunities to support families with more durable shelter options over the coming months.

Rotary volunteers erect a tent in Hatay, Turkiye

In Turkiye, Rotary is supporting the Government led response, coordinated through AFAD and supported by the Turkish Red Crescent. Rotary is working closely with, and have permission from, AFAD to operate in some of the affected areas. Rotary’s connections with AFAD, search and rescue organisations, supply chain and logistics businesses and municipalities has been critical in enabling ShelterBox to respond and get aid on the move in a dynamic and complex emergency.

Rotary and Rotaract members have been instrumental in this response from the very beginning, providing ShelterBox with critical introductions to local authorities, valuable translation services, assistance with travel and logistics across the country and supporting with distributions on the ground.

In collaboration with Rotary, Project 1 in Türkiye will support 2,000 families  affected by the earthquakes in Hatay, Antep Maras, Malatya and Andiyaman. It aims to contribute to people’s immediate safety by providing access to emergency shelter and basic household items. Distributions have been ongoing throughout March, and we expect these to be completed by mid-April.

Distributions for Project 11 are underway in Cameroon

For Project 11, we are working with a new partner, Public Concern, a national NGO based in Maroua in the Far North of Cameroon. They have extensive experience working in this region, including the founding and management of Minawao Camp itself.

 

This project aims to support approximately 9,800 households in the Far North (refugees, Internally Displaced Persons, returnees and vulnerable populations) with a range of emergency, transitional and durable shelters. Project 11 builds on the learning of our previous projects and will utilise our new partner’s ability to carry out local procurement, delivering a larger range and more specific set of aid packages to affected people in Cameroon.