Charity helps 25,000 people affected by typhoons

A Cornwall-based charity has supported an estimated 25,000 people affected by a series of typhoons in the Philippines.

The international disaster relief charity ShelterBox was one of a few organisations that responded after six major storms made landfall in less than a month.

The natural disasters happened in November and resulted in the evacuation of more than a million people.

ShelterBox response team member, Martin Strutton, said: "People don't have time to recover from one storm before the next one is upon them and the need for emergency shelter that can withstand future storms becomes more important than ever."

A spokesperson for ShelterBox said the charity had been distributing aid including corrugated iron sheets, hurricane strapping, tarpaulins, rope and tools to people most in need.

The charity said it had been distributing the items needed most.

The spokesperson said: "That means solar lights for communities that don't have a stable electricity supply, mosquito nets in areas known to have Dengue fever, and blankets so people can keep warm at night.

"A small amount of cash for people most badly affected means that families can buy new materials and hire skilled local labourers to rebuild homes."

Marilou Pia, ShelterBox operations Philippines, said: "Repairing and rebuilding shelters can be expensive.

"It means people are doing what they can, using whatever items they can salvage from their damaged houses before the next bad weather comes.

"This support should give people a foothold to rebuild faster and with better materials that will help keep their homes watertight for longer."

Ms Pia added: "We have used a lot of the aid we had stored in our warehouse in Cebu, so now it's time to regroup, restock and prepare for the next time we are needed."

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