Help for thousands en route to Haiti
RESCO President John Knutson has been involved with the International Disaster Relief program called ShelterBox since 2007. Through the Rotary organization, John and others have been “ShelterBox Champions” by providing programs and presentations to raise the awareness and need for a program like ShelterBox. Knutson says, “With a tent for up to ten people, water purification systems and other essential tools and resources in each kit…these are the perfect kits for the need in Haiti right now.”
Emergency shelter provision for more than 30,000 people has now been pledged to the people of Haiti with more due to follow but the logistical nightmare in Haiti continues.
1,700 ShelterBoxes have already been dispatched and a further 1,600 will leave from the UK this week directly for Port au Prince, Haiti. Warehouse volunteers in the UK have worked tirelessly packing the boxes. This is a total of 3,300 ShelterBoxes with more to follow.
The ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) on the ground is continuing its work with ACTED and local Rotarians in order to ensure the fastest and most effective distribution of aid.
David Eby (US), Wayne Robinson (US) and Mark Pearson (UK), who have been in Port au Prince since Thursday, have commenced training sessions with their contacts on the ground to help them deliver and distribute the ShelterBoxes.
While there has been no confirmation of ShelterBoxes arriving in Port au Prince logistics teams in the UK, the ShelterBox Logistics team in Miami and the SRT in Haiti are doing everything within their power to ensure the boxes reach Haiti as quickly as possible.
ShelterBox Head of Operations John Leach said: ‘The people in Haiti need everything now. We’re doing all we can to land emergency shelter provision in Port au Prince but we’re mindful of not adding to the logistical nightmare on the ground.
‘This is a massive logistical challenge and that is why we have a team in Miami helping coordinate the logistical effort.’
SRT members Mark Dyer, John Lacquey, Steven Tonkinson (all US) and Ian Neal (UK) have met up with ShelterBoxes sent to Miami on Virgin Atlantic flights. Ian Neal will be heading to Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic to run further logistics from there and work with the Response Team in Port-au-Prince.
The UN estimates that 200,000 families, up to one million people, are in need of immediate shelter in Haiti.
ShelterBox Founder and CEO Tom Henderson says: ‘This is as bad as we’ve seen it. There’s never been a bigger need. We’re receiving support and donations from all corners of the globe and from people who come from all walks of life.
‘ShelterBox relies entirely on public donations and people’s generosity. We receive no government funding. I’d urge, if you can, to help us.’
RESCO and ShelterBox
While in Australia with Rotary on their vocational, ambassadorial and cultural exchange in 2007, John and his team comprised of four young business professionals met Tom Henderson, the Founder and CEO of ShelterBox. Tom was the guest speaker at the Rotary District Conference in Port Macquarie, in New South Wales. According to Knutson, “Tom’s keynote speech showing the devastation and need of the victims after natural disasters was incredibly moving. Our GSE Team agreed that this program was something we could bring back to help spread the word and support financially. The help and hope that ShelterBox provides while keeping the family unit together is very powerful.”
If you would like more information on ShelterBox, please visit www.shelterboxusa.org to find out how you can help.
Feel free to contact RESCO President John Knutson at jknutson@rescocompany.com if you would like more information as well.
