Tuesday 19 January 2010
First ShelterBoxes arrive in Port au Prince
Dave Eby and Wayne Robinson collect the first ShelterBoxes at Port au Prince airport. Photograph: Mark Pearson The first ShelterBoxes have arrived in Port au Prince and hundreds more are due to arrive later today.
The ShelterBox Response Team of David Eby (US), Wayne Robinson (US) and Mark Pearson (UK), who have been in Haiti’s capital since Thursday, took delivery of the first ShelterBoxes at Port au Prince airport yesterday.
The team say twelve of these boxes will be used to build an emergency field hospital at the airport.
‘We are helping build a field hospital with these tents at the airport,’ said Mark Pearson. ‘These are desperate conditions, amputations are happening every half hour. There’s an urgent need for tents at hospitals and this is our first priority.’
ShelterBox Head of Operations John Leach said: ‘The safety of our staff in Haiti is of paramount importance.
‘We are working with the agencies on the ground to ensure that ShelterBoxes are not only distributed speedily and efficiently, but that our team on the ground is able to work in a safe environment.’
Hundreds more boxes are due to arrive into Port au Prince later today from Miami on a chartered aircraft. Thousands more ShelterBoxes are being packed and shipped from ShelterBox HQ in the UK.
ShelterBox Founder and CEO Tom Henderson said: ‘The devastation in Haiti has moved everyone here. We now have our boxes on the ground and it’s a privilege to help. The scale of devastation is huge.
‘By the sheer grit and determination of our staff and volunteers we have been able to respond in record time. Our thanks go to the teams of volunteers, as well as to our donors, who have allowed us to do this.
‘ShelterBox relies entirely on public donations and people’s generosity. We receive no institutional funding and no DEC money. I’d urge, if you can, to help us.’
If you can help support ShelterBox's work around the globe in any way, great or small, please click here.
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