Why we need support right now
We have been supporting families around the world with life-saving aid to help them protect from coronavirus. But we must do more. Read how you can help us in the global fight against coronavirus.
In honour of World Humanitarian Day, which is held every year on August 19th, we are celebrating our trusted global partners.
As the world continues to fight the coronavirus pandemic, we are working with our partners nonstop. Together, we are overcoming unprecedented challenges to support vulnerable people who are already going through a crisis.
We couldn’t provide support for people in need in the Philippines, India, Ethiopia, Tanzania and beyond without the incredible work of our partners.
Click on the images below to read the captions
This is Irish standing outside her home which was totally destroyed when Category 3 Typhoon Vongfong made landfall in the Philippines in May. Torrential rains brought devastating damage, with nearly half a million people affected. Together with our partner, we are supporting families across 19 barangays (villages) whose homes have been completely flattened. Communities in these areas have not received any support from other humanitarian organisations after the disaster.
Socially distanced seating at aid distributions in the Philippines. Families whose homes were damaged by Typhoon Vongfong received training on how best to use our aid items before taking them home to rebuild. Our project aims to decongest evacuation centres, providing some private space for families to allow them to protect themselves from coronavirus.
Handwashing stations at aid distributions in the Philippines. Coronavirus mitigations were put in place to ensure the safety of our team members and our partners attending the distributions, as well as the families we are helping. Mitigation measures include physical distancing, handwashing, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
In Burkina Faso, more than 920,000 people had been forced to flee their homes due to extremist violence. This has led to the country having one of the fastest-growing displacement crises in Africa. We have been working with our new partner Help Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe to support the most vulnerable communities. We have supported families with tarpaulins, kitchen sets, water carriers, sleeping mats, high thermal blankets, mosquito nets and solar lights.
The Burkina Faso government has introduced measures to stop the spread of coronavirus, including closing land and air borders and banning gatherings of more than 50 people. However, despite the many challenges, we are working with our new partner Help to support the most vulnerable communities. Coronavirus mitigation measures include the use of antibacterial gel, masks, gloves and physical distancing. Help have also used the aid distributions to provide more information about coronavirus to rural communities.
Distributions taking place in June 2020 in Cameroon with our long-term partner IEDA Relief. This is Project 8 which includes 743 tents with household items including water carriers, kitchen sets and blankets, 560 shelter kits, 2,000 tarpaulins and rope, and additional household items for families with added vulnerabilities. Distributions are held to support families displaced by the ongoing conflict in the Northern Region of Cameroon and the Lake Chad Basin.
In 2019, we responded to flooding in Paraguay, where we supported families with tools to rebuild their homes. This year we focused on the country once again for a response that was a little bit different. With the additional threat of coronavirus lurking over already vulnerable families, we partnered with Habitat for Humanity Paraguay to create coronavirus information campaigns.
The distributions in Ethiopia took place through our partner IOM (International Organisation for Migration) who we have been working with in Ethiopia since 2018. The ShelterBox tarpaulins and household items will protect families from rain, strengthen their ability to withstand infections (including coronavirus), and allow them to extend their shelter to create more space.
Women walking away after collecting their aid items during distributions of tarpaulin, kitchen sets and other household items in Ethiopia. The ShelterBox tarpaulins and household items will protect families from rain, strengthen their ability to withstand infections (including coronavirus), and allow them to extend their shelter to create more space.
This is Rexon at the distributions of ShelterBox aid items in the Philippines. He became displaced after Taal Volcano erupted in January 2020. Speaking to our local partner YKBI he said: “First of all, thank God that everyone is safe. To ShelterBox, thank you so much, this is a big help to us. Godbless.”
This is Catalina from the Philippines. She became displaced after Taal Volcano erupted in January 2020. We have supported her with some essential items that will help her to safely distance and protect herself from coronavirus. She said: “I am very pleased with your great help. We have used the tarpaulin because our roof has a hole. Solar lights are also very useful. We thank YKBI, ShelterBox, and Rotary.”
ShelterBox Operations Philippines is working with a local NGO, Yakap sa Kaunlaranng Bata, Inc. (YKBI), to distribute aid to nearly 2,000 families who became displaced when the Taal Volcano erupted in January 2020. The aim is to increase the size of the shared accommodation, allowing families space for physical distancing to prevent the speed of coronavirus. Before they can receive the aid, people get their temperature checked, and wash their hands and feet. They are then validated for the aid with identification before collecting it.
Maryam, 12 years old, washes her hands using the soad and washing basins we have provided. She told us “It is important we keep clean to protect ourselves from the virus”.
We’re providing essential aid items in the Syrian Region which will help people to keep distance from each other and stay as healthy as possible.
Nancy Sabuero (pictured right), the Head of Medical Social Services Unit (MSSU) unit from the hospital said: “We would like to thank the ShelterBox for donating supplies for our much-needed Holding Area and Triage. These facilities were set-up adjacent to the Emergency Room. All cases/patients therefore before entering the emergency room passes through the triaging (triage area). The Holding area serves as temporary accommodation for patients that may need a referral or transfer to our Isolation Ward (quarantine ward) or a referral to another hospital but cannot be transported yet for some other reasons. We are thankful that ShelterBox Operations Philippines came in on the most important time that we need it the most, and that our patients need it the most.”
We have been supporting families around the world with life-saving aid to help them protect from coronavirus. But we must do more. Read how you can help us in the global fight against coronavirus.
This global pandemic is changing all our lives. It’s our duty as humanitarians to help those least able to protect themselves.
Coronavirus is making life more dangerous than ever for families who lose their homes during disasters. Please donate to save lives today.
How does the coronavirus crisis affect communities around the world? Take the quiz to test your knowledge and get the staggering facts.
How do you get aid to the people who need it without endangering anyone and when most countries are on some kind of lockdown and large gatherings are banned?
Learn more about the coronavirus situation in Paraguay and how you’re helping families protect themselves from this deadly virus.