Hargeysa, February 26, 2009 – ShelterBox Response Team member Mike Greenslade reported to Hargeisa, Somaliland with 480 tents to be issued to families living in and around the capital. ShelterBox Response Team members and local volunteers had erected over 250 new Africa tents by the end of January, at two campsites named "Kood-Buur" and "26th June." Newly-trained teams of local volunteers continued into February, building two further camps: "Mohammed Haybe" and "Ahmed Dhagax."

Mike Greenslide commented, “Distribution has gone smoothly with those allocated a tent receiving a numbered ticket which they exchange in the grounds of the Ministry of RRR. Reserve tents have been issued to the elderly and disabled.”

The third ShelterBox Response Team consisting of Adrian Sumner and Jens Pagotto from the UK and Mark Dyer from the USA were left to oversee the completion of the "Haybe" and "Dagax" camps and the distribution, training and fulfillment of the large "Ga'an Libah" camp.

The final ShelterBox Response Team members on the ground in Hargeisa February 9th, confirmed that five IDP camps were successfully equipped with ShelterBox tents. Mohamed Osman the Minister for Resettlement, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction said of ShelterBox, "Your organization and all of your team’s effort has immensely helped the needy of Somaliland. The distribution feedback from the poor, elderly and both physically and mentally handicapped individuals was extremely positive and demonstrates both the need for and the impact of the generosity of ShelterBox organization. We are genuinely appreciative of your support and assistance by your teams in bringing a roof over the head albeit temporarily of many, many relatively less fortunate households and individuals."

Mr. Osman added, "Organizations such as Shelter Box are indeed few and far apart; nevertheless your approach is revolutionary in its kind, direct and straight forward in approach as you travel long distance to meet face to face with real beneficiaries among the poor. Your sympathy and compassion to make a difference in deprived areas in the world is unparalleled as your teams projected through out the recent distribution exercises."

ShelterBox: www.shelterbox.org

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