Tuesday 14 April 2009
Last tents go up in Italy
SRT volunteers unload ShelterBoxes on 13 April
ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) volunteers have completed the distribution of a further 120 tents and 500 blankets that arrived in the disaster area on 13 April.
The tents were driven to Italy from the UK non-stop by SRT members Graham Higginson (UK) and Tim Evans (UK). The tents and blankets were distributed in Paganica, 5kms east of L’Aquila, and San Nicola nel commune di Tornimparte, 15kms south of L’Aquila. In total ShelterBox has distributed 365 boxes and 500 blankets to those affected by the 6 April earthquake. “We estimate that 2,000 people are currently sleeping in our tents,” says team leader John Diksa. ShelterBox has been working in the country with local disaster relief agencies and Rotarians. Nearly 300 people lost their lives in the earthquake and about 40,000 people were left homeless. The current SRT deployment has now ended, although further deliveries of aid will be made if required. ShelterBox's work in Italy was covered by a number of major news networks. Click here to see SRT volunteer Andrew Biss's interview with BBC News.
