Shelterbox Canada Emergency Appeal

Posted: March 14 - 2011

TORONTO, CANADA, March 12, 2011

ShelterBox Canada is already on the ground in answer to the Japanese government’s plea  for international assistance in the wake of yesterday’s 8.9 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

Reports coming out of Japan estimate more than 215,000 people are now homeless from the two-pronged disaster and the need for emergency shelter is the top priority.

A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) is on the ground in Japan less than 24 hours after the earthquake struck. The experienced response team consisting of Mark Pearson, Lasse Petersen and John Diksa are now working with authorities to assess the areas of most need. 

 ‘We’re facing a very challenging set of circumstances dealing with the effects of an earthquake, a tsunami and now a potential nuclear incident,” said ShelterBox Response Team member Mark Peterson.  “Our efforts will initially be focussed on Japan’s north where the worst affected areas are. We have aid ready to move as soon as we establish where the greatest need is.’

ShelterBox has a pre-positioned stock of boxes filled with tents and life-saving equipment at key locations around the world enabling the organization to respond quickly to any requests for aid.

Canadian ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) member Jen Kormendy from Delta, BC has experienced firsthand the challenges relief workers face after a major disaster.  “With so many dead or missing, and so much devastation, people are in shock and need our help to move forward in their lives. Our SRT members face many logistical challenges this soon after a disaster, especially one of this magnitude, however these are some of our most experienced SRTs and I know they will get the job done.”

As well as the response to Japan, ShelterBox also has SRT members working in Madagascar, Bolivia and Peru, delivering emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies to families who have lost everything in disasters.

Donations can be made to ShelterBox Canada online at www.shelterboxcanada.org. For more information please contact:Sheila Hart, Shelterbox Ambassador 250-825-9241 or e-mail: sheilahart@shaw.ca

Download the Shelterbox Canada Emergency Appeal in pdf format here