The latest operations update is available here
Dam burst in Laos
- A dam collapse in Laos has sent flashfloods through six villages, leaving thousands of people homeless. We’re monitoring the situation to see if and how we can help families who have lost their homes.
- There has not yet been a call for international assistance. Currently the national authorities are dealing with the situation.
- Our teams are on standby and if needed will be ready to mobilise to help families who may have lost their homes, possessions, even family members, loved-ones and friends.
- We have Shelterkits pre-positioned in Subang, Malaysia ready to help families if needed – including tarpaulins, building tools and fixings. Additional aid is pre-positioned including blankets, water filters, solar lights and cooking equipment. These are some of the essential items that families might need to survive and start the recovery process.
Monitoring
Typhoon Henry - this typhoon was moving across from the western coast of America, with a possible effect on Japan and the Chinese mainland. There has been no major event that we need to respond to but there are a number of storms lining up. None of these are currently causing concern but because there are a number in a row we will be watching these closely.
Wildfires in Greece - wildfires have swept a village near Athens with 80 people killed and a number of evacuations as well. It is unlikely there will be a request for aid but we are monitoring the situation.
Hydro-electric dam burst in Laos - 6,600 people have been made homeless with a high number missing and a few confirmed dead.
Democratic Republic of Congo - we are continuing our work here to see if there is a need for ShelterBox to help in the ongoing conflict.
Current Activity/Deployments
Kenya
We are hoping to respond in Kenya to support 2000 families that have been displaced by flooding earlier in the year. Unfortunately those families are still living in displacement camps as they cannot return to their homes due to ongoing water or risk of future flooding.
We are looking to provide ShelterKits plus solar lights and Thirst Aid stations (water filers). This aid package will help them to return to their homesites or new sites that are safe. A lot of families have had their livelihoods affected as crops were destroyed in the floods. It is taking time to rebuild their crops and the tools contained in our ShelterKits will help them in the recovery process.
Additionally Kenya has a ban on plastic bags and the problem that we faced in providing aid was that many of our aid items are pre-packaged in plastic by our suppliers. We have teams working very hard to remove all packaging to enable them to be imported into Kenya. We also have a Logistics team working on importation documents and then we can commence shipment immediately.
In addition a team is heading out to Nairobi who will work with our partner Kenyan Red Cross Society to develop a training program so every family who receives our aid package understands how to use it and can make the best use of it to rebuild their lives.
Cameroon
160,000 people displaced already in Cameroon and with the Presidential elections coming up in November this situation will worsen. We have had a team in there to gather on the ground information to ensure we partner with the right agency and that we work correctly to ensure that the people we are helping are not at any further risk.
160,000 people displaced already in Cameroon and with the Presidential elections coming up in November this situation will worsen. We have had a team in there to gather on the ground information to ensure we partner with the right agency and that we work correctly to ensure that the people we are helping are not at any further risk.
Ethiopia
Inter-community violence on the Ethiopian border has displaced 970,000 people and communities are finding their numbers are being doubled by displaced persons arriving. We are looking to support 2000 families. We are in the process of getting import documents signed to get our first shipment of emergency aid delivered.
Inter-community violence on the Ethiopian border has displaced 970,000 people and communities are finding their numbers are being doubled by displaced persons arriving. We are looking to support 2000 families. We are in the process of getting import documents signed to get our first shipment of emergency aid delivered.
Somaliland
The last of the shipment has arrived to support 650 families due to ongoing drought and displacement. We are currently packaging up the aid to deliver to families.
The last of the shipment has arrived to support 650 families due to ongoing drought and displacement. We are currently packaging up the aid to deliver to families.
Lake Chad Basin
Boko Haram violence has caused massive displacement in Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon. We have projects covering all 4 of those counties. So far we have helped 11,000 people.
Boko Haram violence has caused massive displacement in Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon. We have projects covering all 4 of those counties. So far we have helped 11,000 people.
Our latest project in this area saw us support 765 families with ShelterKits, mosquito nets, water filters, kitchens sets and blankets.
At Minawoa Camp in Cameroon we have provided 439 women's sanitary kits to support women and ensure girls continue to attend schools. We have provided 274 ShelterKits and 238 tents for immediate shelter support.
We have helped 850 families in Chad and a further 1100 in the next phase of support. In Niger we have helped over 1300 families so far and another 1100 in the second phase of support.
Live Operations Update
Get a detailed video update from our Operations Team on our Facebook page here.