THE chief executive of charity ShelterBox, camped out in one of his charity’s aid tents during the Border Union Show in Kelso last weekend to help shine a light on how changing climate is driving displacement around the world. 

Sanj Srikanthan was joined by incoming Rotary International president, Gordon McInally, and Rotarians Doug Forsyth and John Lafferty from Rotary Borderlands.

ShelterBox became Rotary’s formal project partner in disaster relief in 2012, which has recently been renewed for a further three years to help support more people, in more places, in more ways.

The charity is currently working to support people in Ukraine, the Philippines, Yemen, Syria, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Haiti. It has also just sent an assessment team to Bangladesh following some of the worst flash flooding to hit the country.

Peeblesshire News: Sanj Srikanthan at Border Union ShowSanj Srikanthan at Border Union Show

ShelterBox has helped more than two million people across 98 countries and relies heavily on public donations to fund its responses across the world.

£350 can fund a durable tent that provides shelter for families and helps them feel safe and protected. 

£60 can fund a shelter kit that provides the essentials families need to start rebuilding homes straight away.

£11 can fund a solar light that can be used by families for work, education, or simply moving around at night.

£7 can fund a blanket that provides vital warmth, but comfort too when families are recovering from disaster. 

For more information about ShelterBox visit shelterbox.org. 

Rotary International President Elect, Gordon McInally said: “Rotary is delighted to join with our partners at ShelterBox in raising awareness about the increasingly devastating effects of climate change worldwide.

“Environmental disasters are a rising threat to world peace. With this sleep out we’re keen to highlight the increasing numbers of displaced people across the world and signify how by working together we can make a difference to people who have had their lives abruptly disrupted.”

Mr Srikanthan said: “The changing climate is making weather events more severe and that in turn will make the planet more unpredictable as people vie for natural resources and flee across borders.

“We are already seeing this in countries where ShelterBox is responding – in the Sahel, Yemen, and Mozambique, where people are having to leave loved ones, homes, and livelihoods behind.

“While we cannot solve conflicts or work on climate change reduction by ourselves, we can raise the voices of those affected by it.