ROTARY SHELTERBOXES IN LEBANON

The first pictures of ShelterBox tents amidst the ruins of shattered buildings in Lebanon show the extent of the challenge now facing the people of that country.

ShelterBox’s photographer Mark Pearson was in Lebanon to see how ShelterBoxes are being deployed. Enough tents to house more than 6,000 people have so far been sent to Lebanon by ShelterBox.

Local Rotary clubs have already distributed many of the tents to families left homeless by the conflict. Mark said the extent of the damage is hard to take in. He said: "It looks like an earthquake has battered the place."

 

Many people who have lost their homes cannot start any rebuilding because unexploded bombs still litter the area and they are waiting for bomb disposal teams to clear the wreckage.

Here are some pictures the distribution of Shelterboxes in Nabatieh al Fawka. The area has been heavily bombed and evidence of landmines are around also. The Lebanese Red Cross is distributing in the area due to security as they are the most respected people in the south of Lebanon. The Lebanese Red Cross contact is Ali Bacharouch who said "We have never seen this equipment in Lebanon before. It is great, the people appreciate it and this is the only shelter we have had”.

ShelterBox was the brainchild of Rotarian Tom Henderson of the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard in the United Kingdom.

 ShelterBoxes are sponsored by Rotary Clubs, school and church groups, businesses and individuals. Materials are ordered from a range of suppliers, selected for general use, long-life, quality and price.

ShelterBoxes are prepared and packed using all new materials as delivered from manufacturers, at the ShelterBox warehouse based in Helston, Cornwall.

The standard ShelterBox weighs 110 lbs. and has approximate dimensions 33" x 24" x 24". They are sealed and banded for transit and security. Box contents vary depending on the nature of the disaster requiring their use.

Boxes are sometimes packed with two 10-person tents in them, (to the exclusion of some smaller items, to maximize shelter capacity.

Some of the selected Box items that are available for inclusion in the Box are:

One 49-gallon box (the ShelterBox) initially the container for delivery of the materials listed below. Once delivered, can be used as water tank, food store, cot, table, etc

One domed ten-person, tent complete (200 square feet of covered accommodation), including two fabric interior privacy partitions, outer fly-sheet and repair kit. These tents are considered ‘winter suitable’ by international relief standards.

Vinyl insulated sleeping mats and lightweight thermal blankets. More compact than sleeping bags, these mats and blankets have multiple uses. The blanket can also be fashioned to catch water, as a tarp, etc. while the mat also serves as a ground ‘table’ for meals, or tent rugs

Ten envelope-type sleeping bags

One pack of 180 water purification tablets and one 5-gallon flat-pack water container (Each tablet will purify a full container of water providing 1,800 gallons of clean drinking water which should be sufficient for a family of ten for up to three months)

• Two 2.1 gallon, collapsible, plastic water carriers.

• One collapsible trenching shovel

• Rope, 164 foot

• Repellent-treated mosquito netting

• Ten PVC Ponchos/ ten HD plastic bags

• Tool kit in canvas bag: hatchet, jack-knife, screwdriver, hammer, hoe head etc.

• Multi-fuel cook stove

• Eating utensils: enamel plates/cups

• Children’s activity kit-simple school supplies, stickers and colouring book

The contents are under continuous review. A small stock of Freeplay wind-up radios (short-wave and FM) has been obtained to substitute a sleeping bag in every tenth box should such a requirement arise.

For shipping purposes, a large container (40 feet) can accommodate up to 240 ShelterBoxes.

Plans are in development for site-specific Box contents to address varying climate conditions. For example, a tropical disaster site would require sleeping mats and mosquito netting instead of sleeping bags.

Follow this link for more information www.shelterboxusa.org