Monday 21 September 2009
ShelterBox sets up camp in Niger
ShelterBox is currently distributing more than 15 tonnes of emergency shelter and humanitarian aid to victims of the devastating flash floods in Agadez, Niger, West Africa. Ranked 174th of 179 countries on the Human Development Index, Niger is faced with enormous suffering that was significantly exacerbated by some of the worst flooding to hit the region in decades. Flash flooding wreaked havoc among the poorest communities leaving an estimated 100,000 homeless, without shelter, food or access to clean water. Agadez is one of the worst affected areas and the hardest to deliver aid to, as recent conflicts have limited access for international aid, and seen most NGOs forced to pull out. Rivers that have remained almost dry for 90 years were swollen by torrential rains and then burst their banks. The seasonal rains in West Africa are now thought to have affected close to 650,000 people in seven different countries. ShelterBox General Manager Lasse Petersen (UK) – a highly experienced ShelterBox Response Team member – travelled to Agadez to ensure the fastest and most effective distribution of the aid. He said: ‘Families left homeless by the recent devastating floods have now started moving into ShelterBox tents. It is hard to describe the emotions of gratitude and hope seen in the eyes of the families that have been given the lifeline and security of shelter and basic survival necessities. Many more families remain in need of urgent help and we are doing everything we can to ensure they get it.’ Help urgently needed The ShelterBox team are currently distributing 250 disaster relief tents, designed to withstand the hardships of the extreme African climate. Each of these can accommodate a family of 10 and will provide shelter and dignity for as long as it takes to get these families permanently re-homed. Speaking from a camp on the outskirts of Agadez, ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) member Mark Pearson (UK) added: ‘There were thousands of people in squalid conditions with no shelter, or food and only foul, stagnant water. Most have received no help and malaria and other diseases are taking their toll. More help is urgently needed.’ Mark is staying in Niger and has been joined by the second wave SRT of Rick Commisso (US) and Chris Donald (UK). Initial SRT members Lasse Petersen (UK) and John Diksa (FR) have now returned home. ShelterBox worked side by side with the French government and military in order to send the 15 tonnes of aid into Niger as quickly as possible. Tremendous efforts by ShelterBox France secured a French military C-130 plane which flew the aid and the response team into Niger. ShelterBox General Manager Lasse Petersen added: 'The work ShelterBox France have done in making this happen has been phenomenal. And the support from the French government and military has been exceptional.' ShelterBox France report that the French Ministry of Defense have confirmed a second C-130 aircraft will be flying ShelterBox aid to Niger and is scheduled to depart on Monday.
