Friday 20 July 2012
ShelterBox finds need for shelter in Russia
Heavy rains and floods caused widespread damage to homes in the region of Krasnodar in southern Russia, July 2012.Dedzhenie is an elderly woman who lives in Nizhnebakanskaya, a small village near Krymsk in southern Russia. When the rain did not stop, water levels rose, trapping her in her home. She feared for her life until a young man saw her distressed. He broke through one of her windows and saved her dragging her out. Luckily she has her life but with her home damaged from the waters pouring into her house, she now has nowhere to live.
This is just one of many stories the ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) has heard from displaced families whilst assessing the need for aid in the Krasnodar region, following the worst floods the world's largest country has ever experienced.
Reports say Krymsk and the surrounding area are the worst affected areas, where many people were caught unaware of waters pouring into their homes in the middle of the night.
Dedzhenie outside her home that was damaged in the floods, July 2012.
The deputy mayor of Dedzhenie's village has requested emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for 43 families who have had their homes marred by the floodwaters. ShelterBoxes will enable them to live in dignity as they rebuild their houses.
ShelterBox always needs local partners to bring families shelter, warmth and dignity in the quickest and most effective way. The SRT has been working closely with Krasnodar Rotary Club, which has been invaluable in assisting with needs assessments, transportation, contacts and logistics.
'Rebuild their lives'
Russian national disaster management agency, EMERCOM, and community-based search and rescue organization, Kuban Spas, have also been a central point of ShelterBox's response.
"ShelterBox will be working with the community and government agencies in Russia to help facilitate the rebuilding of the communities surrounding Krymsk affected by the devastating floodwaters,' said Austrailia-based SRT member Andrew Clouting.
"The works planned will help these families rebuild their lives and hopefully allow them to move forward with their lives."
An elderly flood survivor living in a makeshift shelter, July 2012.
Denmark-based SRT member Eva Doerr is on her first deployment. "Today was the first day for me of actually seeing and meeting families that have lost everything due to a disaster," said Doerr. "Hearing the individual stories of the people affected, like the one of Dedzhenie, makes me realize the actual impact ShelterBox has on their lives."
Rotarians first point of contact
"This is the first time ShelterBox has deployed to Russia," she added. "The Rotary Club of Krasnodar has been a great help for us. Their preparations made our progress today possible."
Rotarians are often ShelterBox's first point of contact on the ground following a disaster and provide vital assistance to Response Teams. Read more about ShelterBox's Project Partnership with Rotary here.
