ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) volunteers have been increased from the original four to twelve. Following the second 7.3 magnitude quake on May 12 that struck near the town of Namche Bazaar, near Mount Everest in Nepal, ShelterBox was delighted to hear from all twelve SRT volunteers that they were safe.
Response team member, Liam Norris is in Chautara and has reported the main priority is getting people away from buildings into open spaces. They had been engulfed in clouds of dust as the remaining buildings in the area collapsed from the early morning’s quake. The open field is now the gathering point for the people.
ShelterBox’s aid effort will continue albeit hampered by the new operational and logistical challenges the May 12th quake created. Roads are now severely damaged and Kathmandu airport was closed with no flights coming in or out of the country. The road to Kathmandu was completely blocked, meaning that the aid currently in Chautara is all that will be available for distribution for the foreseeable future.
“The magnitude of relief equipment currently on the ground in Nepal or en route to Nepal is huge, advised Graham Mann, Kimberley Rotary’s ShelterBox Canada Ambassador. A total of 3035 boxes plus 1736 kits have been committed. Much of this life saving equipment has come from previously funded stock piles at various critical locations around the world. Canadians have donated over $300,000 to date. Kimberley Rotary Club mailed a cheque for $2,700 on May 13. With the ongoing amazing support from our community we will be mailing another substantial cheque on May 20.
The last news from the two Cranbrook Rotary Clubs was that they collectively were mailing off $9,400. Our heart are filled thanks to all that cared and shared. Many have expressed to me that they wish they could do more. You can. Please use your own social media network to encourage family and friends to go to www.shelterboxcanada.org. The greatest fear now for Nepal is mud slides. Their monsoon season is only four weeks away. Shelters are in great need. Each ShelterBox cost $1,200 which includes shipping to anywhere in the world.
Please donate now either online at www.shelterboxcanada.org or at Kimberley Savings Credit Union, cheques made payable to ShelterBox Canada.”