ROTARY SHELTERBOX DONATION TO MOSUL.

Thanks to the efforts of our International Committee and of course the support from the Forfar public who supported the Rotary “POP UP Shop” during December, it has been seen fit to allocate the proceeds and purchase two Shelterboxes. The giving of items for sale and the subsequent retail of the goods netted enough money for the purchase of these important humanitarian aids, so well done all who contributed. The decision was, that these would be donated to ease the plight of the war torn area of Mosul in Syria where whole families are fleeing from danger from an enemy hell bent on destroying everything and everyone in its path. Civilians caught up in mass destruction and their way of life totally ripped apart.

ShelterBox in partnership with Rotary is an international relief charity that provides immediate assistance to people affected by disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, flooding, hurricanes, cyclones, tsunamis, or conflict. With 18 international affiliates, ShelterBox provides shelter, lifesaving equipment, and educational materials to hard-hit communities worldwide. Since its founding in 2000, ShelterBox has responded to more than 200 natural disasters and humanitarian crises in almost 90 countries, providing vital aid for well over 1 million people.

How do ShelterBox response teams operate?

A highly trained ShelterBox response team, composed mainly of volunteers, distributes ShelterBoxes at the site of a disaster, working closely with local organizations, international aid agencies, and a global network of volunteers. Each ShelterBox, tailored to the particular disaster, typically contains a relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack, and other essential items.

President Paula paid tribute to the hard work of the International Committee, commenting it is good that the members of Forfar Rotary have played a small but important role in relieving human suffering.