SEQUIM — A Sequim man is taking shelters to the homeless in Malawi after a series of earthquakes left tens of thousands homeless.
Scotty Robinson, a Rotarian, and several other volunteers from around the nation set out on Dec. 30 for a two-week deployment. He is helping to deliver ShelterBoxes, which are bins filled with basic food and sanitary needs as well as tents made for longer-term use.
More than 200,000 people have been urged to evacuate their homes in the district, which lies in the earthquake-prone Great Rift Valley, The Associated Press reported.
The International Federation of Red Cross estimated that the most recent quake last month killed two people and injured 171. Of those, 81 were hospitalized with serious injuries.
Initial assessments indicate that 4,800 households were affected, although the government is using a figure of 6,000 households in its assessments and planning. This means that at least 36,000 people have been directly affected.
Robinson temporarily closed his European AutoWerks business in Carlsborg last year while he trained in England for deployment.
Jim Pickett of Sequim, who is one of the top fundraisers for ShelterBox, said the group was proud to have Robinson represent their Sequim Sunrise Rotary Club.
He hasn’t heard from Robinson yet, Pickett said, but “communications there are not good, to say the least.”
“He will try and be in contact, but it is really iffy that he’ll actually get through.”
Robinson and his team will deliver 200 ShelterBoxes throughout Mala-wi.
The charity, which is a grass-roots Rotary International effort, was set up in 2000 to provide aid for disaster victims, and the first ShelterBoxes were sent to Gujarat in India in January 2001.
The boxes, which cost about $1,000, were created to help refugees and families cope with catastrophies.
ShelterBoxes are self-contained crates loaded with 10-person tents, tools, water purification tablets or filters, blankets, mosquito nets and cooking equipment.
Each one weighs about 120 pounds.
Robinson will distribute the ShelterBoxes with the support of Marion Medical Mission — a U.S.-based charity that made the initial request for aid.
Robinson said in an e-mail to the Sequim Sunrise Rotary Club before leaving that while he’s gone his auto shop will stay open with his crew running it, but that he’d have little if any connection with the outside world.
“Multiple earthquakes have struck in combination with excessive rains, and poor housing construction has thousands displaced,” he wrote.
“Malawi is the fourth poorest country in the world, and 43 years is the average life expectancy.
“Fifty-five percent of the population Is HIV-infected, and due to these staggering figures the orphan percentages are staggering.”
Robinson is scheduled to return Jan. 17.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@ peninsuladailynews.com.