Supporting the Shelter Box campaign Verwood Rotary is helping humanitarian efforts across the world – Here is an update from the project
An update on ShelterBox’s winter relief efforts from Sir Ian McKellen. During winter, the conditions faced by those made homeless by conflict or disaster can become even worse. Sir Ian McKellen has been helping us to raise awareness of the difference we can make together to provide warmth and shelter and keep the darkness at bay…
Displaced by earthquakes, floods, and conflict, elderly grandparents, mothers, fathers, and young children are living without shelter. In countries like Syria and Afghanistan, winter brings life-threatening conditions – and a desperate need for support.
This winter, we are asking people to give a truly life-changing gift: the gift of shelter. Every donation helps families survive the harshest months of the year.Give a gift today.
Earthquake and Tropical Storms in the Philippines
Final distributions are taking place now in Masbate to support 1,000 households who were severely impacted by Typhoon Opong.
Our response to the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Cebu, supporting 2,500 households, was also due to be completed by the end of December. But final distributions will be completed soon. Community coordinators have reported that they are happy with the “build back better” techniques observed.
ShelterBox and the Rotary Club of Cebu have completed distributions in response to Typhoon Kalmaegi. The response has supported up to 2,000 households with tarpaulins and tool kits. The response was implemented by the Rotary Club of Cebu, through a Gift in Kind agreement with ShelterBox. Rotary are completing a report on the response.
We are also responding to the deadliest earthquake in thePhilippines in over a decade, which struck just days after back-to-back typhoons and heavy flooding.
We’ve finished distributing emergency shelter and essential items to thousands of families in San Remegio, Bogo City, and Tabogon. We’ve been working with the local community, local authorities, and Rotary to reach affected communities.
We also supported people with transitional shelters. These are to support people who were not allowed to rebuild homes where they previously lived because they were along fault lines. People wanted to stay close to their fishing livelihoods and industry infrastructure so they could fish, mend nets and continue to bring in an income. For those with land access, we provided corrugated iron sheets, hurricane strapping and cash to help hire skilled labour and build shelters.
| Hurricane Melissa made history as the strongest storm of 2025 and the first Category 5 hurricane to directly hit Jamaica. With winds reaching 185mph, it’s the most powerful storm to make landfall anywhere in the world for nearly a century. The hurricane moved slowly over the Caribbean, bringing relentless rain, flash floods, and destructive winds to several countries. Jamaica took the brunt of it. |
Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica
Working with Food for the Poor and Rotary we have reached a total of 1,991 households with emergency shelter kits, thermal blankets, mosquito nets and water carriers. In addition, 462 additional households received 1 solar light per household to help people light their homes and move around more safely after dark.
Thanks to pre-positioned aid in Barbados and Panama, these distributions were completed just 50 days after the devasting hurricane hit the country in early October.
Can you name the top 10 forgotten crises?
More than 117 million people are currently displaced worldwide – yet fewer than one in 10 UK adults are aware of some of the world’s most neglected crises.
Families are fleeing from conflict, climate disasters, and deepening poverty – often more than once – with many now living in overcrowded camps or makeshift shelters.
| When the media doesn’t report on these crises, awareness disappears – and so does solidarity.Our new survey reveals that fewer than one in 10 UK adults are aware of some of the world’s most neglected crises. |
But new research has highlighted just how wide the awareness gap is – with many UK adults not knowing these crises are happening at all.
| This lack of awareness is not accidental. It reflects media underreporting of humanitarian emergencies that affect millions but rarely make headlines. |
ShelterBox is currently responding to five of the most neglected crises. These are in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, and Somalia.
And finally, in addition to this newsletter, you can always follow the work of ShelterBox by visiting the website www.shelterbox.org
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