Letter to Editor – ShelterBox emergency shelter distributions in the Philippines

Dear Editor,  

The typhoon that hit the Philippines a few weeks ago has devastated a country that was already recovering and rebuilding from previous storms. At the disaster relief charity ShelterBox, we have team members on the ground there. With the help of the Rotary Club of Cebu, we have been distributing shelter kits and other essential items to people whose homes have been destroyed. 

We have already provided emergency aid, like tarpaulins and solar lights, to more than 1,000 households (5,000 people). We hope to help more than 8,000 more households whose homes have been destroyed. With more than half a million people still with nowhere to live, we have more aid on its way to reach as many of them as we can.  

The Filipino people are resilient, but Typhoon Rai has caused widespread destruction, affecting almost seven million people – many who were already living below the poverty line. More than 800,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed since the typhoon made landfall last month. With the help of your readers, we hope to be able to help more families who haven’t been able to return to their homes. To find out more about the relief effort and how to support our Typhoon Rai Appeal, visit our website, shelterbox.org. 

Alice Jefferson 

Head of Emergency Responses 

ShelterBox