This year marked a significant milestone: 25 years of ShelterBox. 25 years of working alongside communities, partners, Rotary, and supporters who share our belief that shelter is the foundation for life. A place to feel safe. A place to be with family. A place to earn a living, learn, and begin to recover.
Shelter is a human right. And together, this year, we helped more families take those first steps toward recovery.
What started as a simple concept – providing families in crisis with essential shelter items packed in a box – has evolved into a global organisation. Thanks to your support, we now pre-position aid in strategic locations worldwide. We collaborate with trusted partners, and adapt our responses to meet the unique needs of each community, considering the disaster, climate, and local culture.
As 2025 comes to a close, we want to share what you made possible. Your support has helped us through emergencies that struck without warning and crises that have stretched on for decades.
Responding when disaster strikes
This year was marked by unpredictable and overlapping disasters, from devastating earthquakes to severe weather events. Thanks to your support and our strengthened preparedness, we were ready when crises hit. With aid pre-positioned in Pakistan, the Caribbean, and the Philippines, and new partnerships established in Afghanistan, we were able to respond swiftly and effectively.
Each response looked different, was shaped by local needs, terrain, and community challenges.
Destroyed homes after the Myanmar earthquakes, Image credit: Rotary Club of Central Yangon.
Myanmar – earthquakes
The strongest earthquake in more than a century displaced up to a million people. Despite civil war, access challenges, and heavy rains, we worked with local partners to help thousands repair homes in rural villages.
Daw Wyne with her grandchild in their repaired home.
Daw Wyne told us:
“Before receiving assistance, we covered the holes in the walls with temporary boards.… Now, thanks to your help, our house is safe and sound.”
“I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the donors, and I always keep them in my prayers to Buddha.” Read Daw Wyne’s story.
Read more about our response here.
A woman and child during the Pakistan Flood Response Distributions.
Pakistan – flooding
Unusually heavy monsoon rains left communities flooded and crops destroyed. With Islamic Relief Pakistan, we delivered tents, tarpaulins, thermal blankets, mattresses, kitchen sets, solar lights, hygiene kits, and mosquito nets. Hiring local people to clear debris also provided essential income when livelihoods were disrupted.
Learn more about our response.
Earthquake destruction in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan – earthquakes
A series of destructive earthquakes flattened remote mountain villages already struggling with a broader humanitarian crisis. Thanks to pre-positioned aid and new partnerships, we provided tents, winter clothing, blankets, stoves, and kitchen sets – essentials for surviving the harsh winter.
Read more about our work and what happened here.
Destruction after Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica.
Jamaica – Hurricane Melissa
The strongest storm on record to hit Jamaica left widespread destruction. Aid stores in Barbados and Panama meant we were able to respond rapidly to Hurricane Melissa. Working with Food for the Poor and Rotary in Jamaica, we supported up to 10,000 people as they began repairing homes and replacing essential belongings.
Learn about what happened, and how we’re supporting people here.
Damage in the Philippines after Typhoon Bualoi.
Philippines – Typhoons & the Cebu Earthquake
Multiple storms and earthquakes struck during typhoon season. We partnered with FACE Inc and Rotary to support communities on Masbate Island to rebuild stronger homes. Meanwhile Rotary in Cebu helped us reach families affected by the deadliest earthquake in over a decade.
Learn more about what happened here.
Complex and neglected crises
While responding to sudden disasters, we also continue to support people living through some of the world’s most complex and overlooked crises.
A family in Gaza.
Gaza
Communities in Gaza continued to face unimaginable horror throughout this year. Although the ceasefire brought hope, our aid on the boarder of Gaza continues to be blocked by Israeli authorities. We’ve been exploring all possible options to support people. With your support, we remain committed to helping families in Gaza as soon as conditions allow.
Read more about what’s happening here.
Hawa by her shelter in Chad.
Sudan and Chad
Since the civil war in Sudan erupted in April 2023, over 15 million people have been forced from their homes. Half the population now requires humanitarian assistance. In early 2025, we supported families in Darfur with essential household items, with more projects planned.
Learn more about what’s happening and how we’re working here.
In neighbouring Chad, nearly a million people have fled across the border from Sudan. Working with AHTD, we’ve provided tarpaulins, ropes, solar lights, mosquito nets, kitchen sets, and support for building longer-lasting mud-brick homes.
Zara with her children by their semi-durable shelter.
After receiving ShelterBox support, Zara told us:
“I was so happy, I didn’t realise the house was mine.… we will live safely.” Read Zara’s story.
Kadir’s daughter outside a shelter in Ethiopia.
Other crisis responses
Beyond sudden disasters, millions of people continue to face the long, uncertain journey of displacement. This year, with our partners, we supported families in:
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.
These responses varied – from semi-durable shelters to essential household items, tools, training, and materials for rebuilding. But each one helped families create safer, more dignified places to live.
Fatima by her emergency shelter in Ethiopia.
Stories of strength and recovery
Burkina Faso
In one of the world’s most overlooked crises, we continued working with HELP to support displaced families. Learn about what’s happening in Burkina Faso.
Raguianga shared:
“I’m very happy with HELP and ShelterBox. We bless them day and night. Their help gives us hope of a second life.” Read his story here.
Mamounata sitting in her shelter.
And from Mamounata:
“People no longer see us sleeping under the stars.” Learn more
Mohamed and Ayan in their durable shelter in Somalia.
Somalia – Mohamed and Ayan
In Somalia, we’ve been supporting people with durable shelters and long term land tenancies. One person we’ve supported is Mohamed. He described how different life feels now:
“We were living in a bull that is made up of sticks… it was like a bird’s nest.”
“Life will never be the same.… it’s a comfortable house and human-being shelter.” Read his story. Learn more about our work in Somalia.
Reshma Begum outside her shelter after surviving cyclone Remal.
Bangladesh – Cyclone Remal
After Cyclone Remal hit in late 2024, we supported families rebuilding their homes, by providing materials such as tin sheets, bamboo, strong ropes, and tarpaulins.
Reshma shared:
“I believe, with Allah’s will, this shelter will remain strong for 10 to 20 years.… I am deeply thankful.” Read her full story here.
Your support helped families strengthen damaged homes, replace essential belongings, and create safer, more stable living conditions in some of the world’s most difficult crises.
A message from our teams
Claire Hunt, Emergency Officer at ShelterBox
“On behalf of ShelterBox’s Emergency Team we want to say a huge thank you for your support this year…
We’ve reached places that are extremely difficult to reach. Providing emergency shelter to people affected by disaster is our core purpose – none of what we do is possible without your support.”
Our Supporter Care Team at ShelterBox
“As the year draws to a close we want to take a moment to pause, reflect, and most importantly say thank you to the incredible community who supports us.
“Without, your dedication, passion and commitment we wouldn’t be able to plan for the future, meet essential needs and respond quickly when we’re needed. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for making this year a huge success.”
A man fixing a tarpaulin after Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica.
25 years of shared commitment
As we look back on this milestone year, one thing is clear: the work is only possible because of a global community of supporters, partners, Rotary members, and families rebuilding with extraordinary resilience.
Thank you for standing with people facing crisis.
Thank you for believing in the right to shelter.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us – through donations, gifts in your Will, volunteering your time, or sharing your energy and expertise.
And thank you for being part of the last 25 years, and the years to come.
