ShelterBox Italy Update

April 8, 2009:   International disaster relief charity ShelterBox has put up a "tent city" to house more than 300 homeless people in a village close to the epicenter of the April 6 earthquake in central Italy.

A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) has put up 40 tents in the village of Assergi, 20 kms from the town of L?Aquila. "The village is in the mountains where the temperature falls below zero at night," says SRT volunteer John Diksa. "We have set up two camps with 20 tents in each so that the community remains close together. Everyone now has a roof over their heads." 

ShelterBox is working with the local disaster relief co-coordinator to identify other nearby villages that require emergency shelter. "We are working through a list of villages in need of our help, and we will be getting assistance to them as quickly as we can," adds John.

The international charity has sent 240 boxes to Italy, 15 of the boxes sponsored by US Donors are providing shelter for 150 of the homeless. ShelterBox is on standby, ready to provide more aid at a moment's notice. "We are still monitoring the situation there and are ready to send some more out if they are needed," says General Manager Lasse Petersen.

Each ShelterBox contains a 10-person tent, blankets, water purification and cooking equipment, basic tools, a stove and other essential equipment. Every box is individually numbered and can be tracked by donors.