LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla./EWORLDWIRE/May 12, 2008 --- ShelterBox, the U.K.-based Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Aid Organization, has been in Myanmar (formerly Burma) since Thursday, May 8. The organization was confirmed as the first U.K.-based Humanitarian Aid / Disaster Relief team with aid to have landed in Yangon, Myanmar to assist in the Cyclone disaster relief work. The team, comprised of four highly skilled disaster relief specialists, spent the first 24 hours surveying and assessing the situation.Approximately 200 ShelterBoxes are at the airport in Yangon ready for distribution, with a further 400 ShelterBoxes on route and 1000 more ready to leave Helston / Cornwall HQ in the next few days. ShelterBox can confirm that all relief will be distributed by the military with ShelterBox assistance but new ground has been broken this morning as ShelterBox Response Team members in Yangon meet with the Myanmar Fire and Rescue Service at the airport to instruct them on how to use and distribute this vital aid.
Myanmar military personnel examine erected ShelterBox tent at Yangon airport. The Myanmar Military and Navy are all learning about the equipment in anticipation that it will soon be leaving the airport and going into the field. International NGO'S are restricted to Yangon with no more visas being issued to International staff. Any international NGO'S found to be in any area other than Yangon will be deported; if they are carrying any goods they will be confiscated by the military.
ShelterBox is a non-political volunteer organization loosely affiliated at a local club level with the world-wide service organization Rotary International. The unassuming aid group is often able to utilize the international communications network of local Rotary clubs to bypass redtape that can hinder effective emergency response.
To date, there are five (U.S., Canada, Australia, Germany and New Zealand) national grassroots-charity affiliates organized to promote funding for the U.K. operation. To date, ShelterBox has distributed its unique aid package to 65 disaster events in 48 countries since 2001, including over 13,000 for the Christmas Asian tsunami of 2004. The quantities available for Myanmar relief depend on incoming donations to sponsor Boxes currently being assembled.
Each aid Box contains a 10-person tent, sleeping mats and mosquito netting, a stove and cooking implements, emergency water purification supplies, and hand tools. The Box and contents become the property of the recipient family. Each Box costs $1000, including world-wide transport, to sponsor. Donations of lesser amounts are compiled into multiple donor Boxes. U.S. donors can go to 'http://www.shelterboxusa.org' for online giving. Mail donations go to ShelterBox USA, 8374 Market St. #203, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202.
Pictures: Still images and video footage from previous deployments can be downloaded from ftp://www.shelterbox.org - username shelterboxmedia, password sh5938.
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