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Philippines

More ShelterBoxes sent to Philippines as massive flooding continues

Another 424 ShelterBoxes have been sent to the Philippines with the country still reeling from massive floods caused by repeated typhoons.

It brings the total number of boxes of aid distributed in the country to more than 1,500, enough to provide emergency shelter for more than 15,000 people.

In recent months, the Philippines have been ravaged by four typhoons, destroying hundreds of thousands of homes due to floods, high winds and landslides.

The most recent, Typhoon Mirinae (Santi) brought torrential rains and landslides to areas in central Luzon which were still flooded from three previous typhoons.

Since August, six ShelterBox Response Teams (SRT) have distributed 1,569 boxes of aid to the Philippines. Currently on the ground are Ron and Claire Noseworthy (CA), Mark Curnow (UK), Graham Higginson (UK) and David Webber (UK).

Another 424 ShelterBoxes have been sent to the Philippines with the country still reeling from massive floods caused by repeated typhoons.

It brings the total number of boxes of aid distributed in the country to more than 1,500, enough to provide emergency shelter for more than 15,000 people.

In recent months, the Philippines have been ravaged by four typhoons, destroying hundreds of thousands of homes due to floods, high winds and landslides.

The most recent, Typhoon Mirinae (Santi) brought torrential rains and landslides to areas in central Luzon which were still flooded from three previous typhoons.

Since August, six ShelterBox Response Teams (SRT) have distributed 1,569 boxes of aid to the Philippines. Currently on the ground are Ron and Claire Noseworthy (CA), Mark Curnow (UK), Graham Higginson (UK) and David Webber (UK).

'Profound generosity'

SRT member Rachel Simpkins (UK), who has returned home after delivering tents to more than 30 families in the village of La Trinidad, Benguet province, said: 'The whole village of 50 houses was washed away by landslides, killing 100 people. Miraculously, there was a lone survivor: a six-year-old boy who had lost six members of his family. He was later reunited with his mother who had been away when the landslide happened.'

Rachel, from Truro, was presented with a letter of gratitude from the Mayor of Atok in Benguet which read: 'Your solidarity and compassion in this time of adversity made a big difference to those who were hit hardest by the typhoon.

'We greatly acknowledge your most profound generosity that exemplifies the ideals of giving and sharing for the sake of others. Rest assured that your contributions will long be remembered by the beneficiaries and the people of Atok.'

ENDS

To arrange an interview with Rachel Simpkins or SRT members in the Philippines, or for high resolution images, please contact Angelina Lambourn on 01326 569782 or angelinal@shelterbox.org

NOTES TO EDITORS

About ShelterBox

ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity which exists to provide humanitarian aid worldwide in the form of shelter, warmth and dignity for people displaced by natural and other disasters.

Each ShelterBox contains a 10-person tent, blankets, water purification and cooking equipment, basic tools, a stove and other essential equipment. Every box is individually numbered and can be tracked by donors. Each box costs £490 - including the cost of all materials, packing, storage, transport worldwide and distribution to the needy. Best value is achieved by working closely with leading suppliers, all items being obtained at below trade price. Assuming six months' use, this equates to shelter and warmth for less than 30 pence per person per day.

All aid delivery is undertaken by international volunteer ShelterBox Response Team members who have carried out extensive training with ShelterBox. The charity is often able to get aid where it is needed faster than any other organisation.

An initiative of Rotarian Tom Henderson, a former Royal Navy search and rescue diver, ShelterBox started in 2000 as a project of the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard, Cornwall. ShelterBox, now the largest Rotary Club project in the world, has raised over £25 million and responded to over 90 major disasters including the Indian Ocean Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (Burma) and has operated in 60 countries.