Press release – 19 February 2025
For the first time, ShelterBox will be at the annual conference of The Association of British Insurers (ABI) to engage with industry leaders about the difference they can make to disaster affected communities.
The international disaster relief charity supports people across the world with emergency shelter, essential household items, training, and cash assistance so people who have been uprooted from their homes can repair or rebuild. It’s vision – a world where no one goes without shelter after disaster.
ShelterBox provides essential humanitarian aid and disaster relief, often acting as vital support for people who cannot access insurance. By partnering with ShelterBox, the sector can extend its reach and impact in responding to this protection gap.
“Time and time again we are seeing that communities most vulnerable to the climate crisis and disasters are trapped in a cycle of disasters,” says Rachel Koerner, Corporate Partnerships Manager at ShelterBox.
“People don’t have the time, resources, or support to recover before the next storm, flood, or drought is upon them.
“We specialise in emergency shelter to support people whose homes have been damaged or destroyed by extreme weather, earthquakes, and other disasters.”
Shelter is a human right, and the need has never been more urgent. Right now, around 120 million people have been forced to flee their homes by disaster or conflict. In the next 25 years around 1.2 billion people will be at risk of losing their homes to disaster – that’s around 1 in 6 of people alive today.
Rachel adds: “The insurance industry is uniquely positioned to contribute to disaster relief and climate resilience and help us bridge the insurance gap.
“Where the insurance sector and ShelterBox overlap is preparing for the future – understanding risks and problems and then structuring a response, making sure we’re ready for when the worst happens.
“When we work together with companies, like Arch Capital Group, we can amplify and leverage this to build and rebuild more resilient communities.”
As well as tents and other emergency shelter aid, the charity focuses on making shelters more robust and resilient in the face of the changing climate. That means concrete bases in places that repeatedly flood like in Pakistan and Syria, storm strapping to make timber shelters more robust in the Philippines, shelters with iron frames and fire-resistant insulation in Yemen, and in Burkina Faso, wooden frame Sahelian tents to withstand local climates.
Every disaster is different, and ShelterBox responses are too. Its teams and partners listen to affected communities to find out what is needed most and tailor responses depending on what is culturally appropriate and works with the local weather.
ShelterBox recently supported almost 25,000 people in the Philippines whose homes lay in the path of six major storms that hit within a month, leaving whole communities without shelter.
The Philippines is battered so frequently by severe storms that ShelterBox pre-positions aid in the country and has a team based there permanently. It means the charity, which has worked in the Philippines more than 30 times, was well prepared to respond with corrugated iron sheets, hurricane strapping, tarpaulins, rope, and tools.
To find out more about ShelterBox and its responses across the world visit shelterbox.org.
The ABI conference later this month, which is marking its 40th anniversary, brings together decision makers from across the insurance and long-term savings industry.
ENDS
For more information contact the press office at ShelterBox via [email protected].
Notes to Editors
- Images and captions included
- Interviews available on request
- The ABI conference is on 27 February 2025
About ShelterBox
ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and other essential items to families who have lost their homes to disasters. With operational headquarters in Cornwall, the charity also has 13 affiliate organisations worldwide.
The charity has been Rotary International’s project partner in disaster relief since 2012. ShelterBox has supported more than 3 million people since it was founded in 2000. www.shelterbox.org.
