ShelterBox sending aid to Burma

The boxes contain enough equipment to house a large family for six months

Two-hundred aid boxes from Cornwall are on their way to Burma to help with the relief effort after a cyclone caused widespread devastation.

A team of four people is also flying out from the charity ShelterBox to oversee the distribution of the emergency shelter kits.

Another 1,000 boxes are expected to be packed in Helston during the week.

Up to 22,000 people are believed to have died in the disaster and many more are missing.

Hundreds of thousands of people are said to be without clean water and shelter, with some areas still cut off after the cyclone hit on Saturday.

ShelterBox distributes tough, green plastic boxes containing a 10-person tent and enough equipment to house a large family for at least six months.

It has sent them to more than 40 countries since being established in 2001.

Each 60kg box also contains pots and pans, a multi-fuel stove, water carriers and purification tablets, tools for rebuilding, blankets and mosquito nets.

ShelterBox's operations manager, Lasse Peterson, said the charity would be tailoring the boxes to the needs on the ground.