What happened?
In January 2020, the Taal Volcano erupted in the Philippines.
Over 580,000 people were affected, with many taking temporary shelter in crowded evacuation centres or staying with loved ones.
For more than four months following the disaster, many people were not able to return home. Many were living with host families.
Taal volcano facts
- The Taal volcano is the second most active volcano in the Philippines
- Its last eruption was in 1977
- The eruption in January 2020 spewed ash up to 9 miles in the air, forcing people to evacuate their homes
- Over 2,400 volcano tectonic earthquakes occurred after the eruption
Read more about volcanoes, how they erupt, and the effects of an eruption.
Learn moreHow did ShelterBox help?
We supported around 2,000 families with essential items like shelter kits, tarpaulins, rope, mosquito nets and solar lights.
These items allowed host families to extend the footprint of their homes, providing more space for social distancing.
The Philippines is one of the world’s worst disaster-affected countries. That’s why we have aid stored locally in Cebu, making it quick and easy for us to respond in times like this.
We can’t do our work alone, so we partnered with YKBI (Yakap sa Kaunlaran ng Bata Inc) who helped as we carefully selected and distributed aid. We also received support from our local Rotary contacts.
We also sent a small number of tarpaulins, ropes and fixings to Eversley Sanitorium, a public hospital in Cebu serving the poorest and most marginalised members of the community. Our aid was used to create extra spaces to treat patients in both emergency admissions and triage areas.
Toolkits
A selection of hardwearing tools and materials as well as rope and nails.
Solar lights
These lights enable families to cook meals and children to finish their homework when it gets dark.
Mosquito nets
Coated with insecticide, our mosquito nets offer an extra layer of protection by killing insects on and around the net.