As President Obama, members of Congress, and other world leaders debate the best course of action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, millions of civilians in Syria are faced with daily, unimaginable hardships. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, over 1.5 million Syrian refugees are currently being hosted by Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq, and Egypt. The UNRA estimates that by the end of this year, that number could rise upwards of 3.45 million. These refugees must leave their worldly possessions behind as they seek protection in overcrowded, makeshift shelters, in camps with poor sanitation and a lack of a steady food supply.
Enter ShelterBox USA, a non-profit organization based in Sarasota, Florida, dedicated to providing support for Syrian refugees and other people in need all over the world. Their goal is to respond instantly to natural disasters and other crises in order to deliver boxes of aid to those in need. Boxes are tailored to the needs of each area of the world. Inside, supplies may include a relief tent for a family of up to 10 people, thermal blankets, insulated ground sheets, a water purification system, basic tool kit, stove, cooking supplies, and a children’s pack with drawing books, crayons, and pens. Even the box itself is lightweight and waterproof and can be used for a variety of purposes once emptied.
(All images via ShelterBox)
Volunteers of the ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) are deployed to crisis locations in order to provide aid directly to people who desperately need the supplies ShelterBox provides. SRTs are currently deployed in Sudan, Pakistan, Iraqi Kurdistan, the Philippines, and Syria.
To date, ShelterBox has already sent aid to over 4,500 families in Syria, Iraqi Kurdistan, Lebanon, and Jordan. With the onset of winter in the near future, it’s imperative that families receive the aid they desperately seek in order to survive. To donate to ShelterBox USA or learn more about joining the ShelterBox Response Team, visit their website and learn how you can help make a difference.
