SHELTERBOX AID FINALLY REACHES CHINA VICTIMS
Report Date: 29/05/2008
The immediate response by ShelterBox, the grass-roots humanitarian aid organisation supported by Rotary worldwide, of 800 boxes to China has finally reached some of the Sichuan Provinces worst hit villages.
Distribution of the first 200 boxes began this week (Tuesday 27th May), led by the four-man ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) on the ground. The first consignment of boxes were split into two lots of 100.
Pat Prendergast, Team Leader, reported on the two villages of Pengzhou & Bailu commented: "Tents are up and the locals are extremely happy, they are no doubt going to be under canvas for sometime, and the ShelterBox tents are creating an excellent base."
"The Chinese people we have met have been brilliant, sadly though we can only help a few thousand of this vast population – more tents are desperately needed."
SRT member, Tom Lay reported "The people are too scared to live in the town and have spread themselves along the mountain pass, we spoke to the Mayor of a small community who were in need of 3000 tents, but he said people further up the mountain were in more desperate need and we should use the ShelterBox equipment there, an attitude of the people here that they have all joined together to help each other."
Back at HQ in Cornwall the volunteers are busily unpacking a mixed selection of tents supplied from Vango who are pulling out all the stops to supply as many tents as possible, ironically back to the country of origin.
In Chengdu, the base camp for the ShelterBox Response Team, several aftershocks have been experienced – the highly motivated and trained responders are coping well and reporting to HQ on a daily basis. For all 'in-country' updates and reports on their progress please contact the Helston office on 01326 569782 and a secure line will be issued to you to speak with the SRT team leader.
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