Report Date: 13/05/2008

Shelterbox, a grassroots disaster relief organization set up by Rotary members in the UK, was among the first charities to reach the affected area of cyclone ravaged Myanmar, as other agencies continue to struggle to gain access.

ShelterBox, the grassroots disaster relief organization set up by UK Rotary members, is getting ready to send another 1,000 ShelterBoxes to Yangon tomorrow (Wednesday 14th May) destined to help survivors of cyclone ravaged Myanmar.

ShelterBox, the first UK based Disaster Relief team to have landed in Burma, have had four specially trained volunteers on the ground since last Thursday (May 8th) and a total of 400 boxes have already been delivered to cyclone victims. The boxes were transported by local authorities to the Delta region using trucks and boats and tents were set up with the help of local fire services trained by the ShelterBox response team in Yangon.

The new shipment of 1,000 boxes has now been dispatched from the ShelterBox headquarters in Cornwall and will leave Birmingham Airport tomorrow.

Shelterbox founder and Rotary club member Tom Henderson from Cornwall says: “Our team of volunteers are working in cooperation with local groups in Myanmar to line up transportation and determine where the shelters will do the most good amid the massive devastation.

“We have received tremendous support from Rotarians and would like to extend our thanks. Without the support of our Rotary friends we would not be able to carry out this essential work.”

Up to 100,000 people are estimated to have died in the cyclone and 70,000 people are still missing, and the destruction of entire communities has left tens of thousands of people homeless.