August 2022
Nepal : durability of RSK shelter after 1 year standing
This was the first RSK shelter erected by our volunteer trainees in August 2021.
It was erected on a municipal site to provide temporary shelter for carrying out numerous daily functions.
After one year it has far exceeded our expectations for its future purpose as an emergency shelter kit.
July 2022
RSK training with Nepal Red Cross
Nepal Red Cross hosted this joint RSK training at their headquarters in Kathmandu. The session focused on the methods of attaching tarpaulins to a standard RSK shelter frame.
The following photos and report show what can be achieved by a dedicated group of volunteers working to improve the emergency shelter response capability in Nepal.
March 2022
RSK training course in west Nepal
RSK shelter instructor Samir Nepal delivered his 5th RSK shelter course in Butwal city, west Nepal. This was the first time that the larger double RSK shelter had been built in Nepal. It was also the first time that the 24 participants, including 4 members of the Nepal Red Cross, had built an RSK shelter.
As seen in the photos and report, the volunteers set a high standard for emergency shelter construction and successfully achieved all our objectives in only a few hours.
February 2022
RSK training course in east Nepal
Heavy rain did not deter a group of 31 volunteers from completing the 4th RSK shelter training course in the far east of Nepal.
This was the first time that the participants had built any RSK shelters and the results were very impressive.
Lead instructor Samir Nepal, with the assistance of Laxmi Prasad Acharya, demonstrated how to build both the emergency and standard RSK shelters to a high standard in only a short time period of time.
January 2022
RSK training course Kathmandu
A team of dedicated volunteers led by Samir Nepal
( Engineer and Rotary President) with the assistance of Laxmi prasad Acharya ( Public health student) gathered together on the outskirts of Kathmandu, on a cold and misty January morning, for the 2nd RSK Shelter training course. The group is working towards completing their training as emergency shelter response teams capable of delivering complete RSK shelter kits wherever they may be needed in Nepal.
December 2021
RSK Shelter Project wins "After The Damages International Award"
It is a great honour for us working on the RSK project to receive this Award, especially from such an insightful academy. The award encompasses such complex topics as emergency prevention, disaster response and management but has, in this case, recognised a concept that is inherently simple.
News of the award has been well received by our RSK Shelter Project volunteers in Nepal and we are all greatly appreciative of this support and recognition from our Italian colleagues.
For further details of this award please see :
August 2021
Volunteers in Nepal demonstrate skills at RSK training
Great progress in their RSK shelter training is being made by the team of Rotaract and Rotary and volunteers in Kathmandu.
August 2021
The start of RSK shelter training in Nepal
Rotary and Rotaract volunteers take the first steps of RSK shelter training using one third scale shelter models.
This was the first time that a one third scale model of the double RSK shelter frame had been built indoors.
December 2020
Community Develop Association (CDA) set up RSK shelter training in 66 Myanmar villages
We are really pleased to see our local partners have trained 1,975 people living at high risk of flash floods to use the RSK shelter.
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November 2020
COVID-19 preparedness and response.
The role of RSK shelters.
Physical distancing and temporary isolation for the poorest communities, together with improved ventilation to potentially reduce transmission of coronavirus.
temporary isolation wards
July 2020
RSK shelter preparedness and response to flash floods and landslides
Many lives are lost each year in countries that have recurring floods and landslides.
The RSK shelter kit innovation provides new opportunities to prepare for and mitigate the impact of these hazards.
June 2020
RSK shelter preparedness for the monsoon and cyclone response
There is a high risk of storm damage to bamboo and tarpaulin shelters in refugee camps during the monsoon period. In the event of a cyclone this damage can be devastating.
RSK preparedness can have a considerable impact on
how well we can respond to widespread cyclone damage.
RSK emergency shelter
May 2020
The assistance that the RSK method of construction can provide in the COVID-19 pandemic
Temporary RSK medical or isolation wards have distinct structural advantages, especially for countries with limited bamboo resources.
The improved ventilation that RSK shelters provide can reduce the the spread of coronavirus.
Physical distancing of families is also something that the RSK shelters can facilitate to reduce transmission of COVID-19.
8 unit temporary RSK shelter
December 2019
The RSK Charity now has some funding for an RSK shelter pilot.
We recognise that we shall need field assistance and have therefore launched this appeal.
It includes a summary of the impact that this pilot can have on both shelter stakeholders and the environment.
Myanmar Delta village RSK shelter training Photo S.Halbert
September 2019
Building bamboo RSK shelters at the RedR "Hands on Weekend"
This is the third year that RSK have been invited back by RedR UK to take one of their four shelter modules over two days. Participants have the opportunity to have "hands on" experience building bamboo reciprocal frame roof relief shelters and provide valuable practical information for the RSK program. Each team of 4 built their first emergency RSK shelter frame within 45 minutes and teams then came together to build the free standing urban (earthquake) double RSK . Included below is some feedback for participants and all who may be interested.
feedback notes
1. All 8 emergency RSK shelter teams achieved the set target of erecting a makeshift bamboo frame shelter to a high standard of strength and practical use.
2. Teamwork and enthusiasm for building the double RSK urban shelter was outstanding, all got stuck in, and you achieved a freestanding frame that we could manipulate and discuss.
3. The value to the RSK shelter program of the above is considerable. Observing first time builders of the emergency RSK continues to focus and improve how we can present the concept to displaced families. Also, you were only the second group to build the double urban RSK. Although we used the assistance of 2 preset posts because of time constraints, we all agreed that 2 props would have worked as well. This urban double RSK is incidentally not the same as the double RSK which also uses props but has a different frame and anchor methods.
4. One discussion group looked more closely at the function of the two props proposed for the double urban RSK shelter. In particular if they were achieving the support /function as proposed in the detailed specification? (available). Several suggestions were put forward to help improve this support. In this connection I would be very grateful if the participants who had the facility to check some of the loadings / moments of forces acting at the base of these props on a computer model of the structure to get back to me.
5. Finally, some of the groups managed to reach the point of lowering the frame of their shelter to the severe storm low profile option.The positive potential for using it was unanimous. I shall be working on getting the information about this option onto this new website shortly.
Many thanks to you all for a most enjoyable weekend.
Shaun Halbert
RSK Shelter Charity Director
May 2019
RSK shelter presentation at UK Shelter Forum
On 10th May Shaun Halbert gave a presentation entitled:
"Reducing Health Hazards of Living in Bamboo Relief Shelters"
with particular reference to his experience in Cox's Bazar and the health benefits of the RSK bamboo shelter.
March 2019
On standby for an RSK Shelter Pilot
The RSK Charity has some funding for an RSK shelter pilot.
We are now looking to expand this pilot to assist in an emergency response.
Myanmar RSK shelter training
March 2019
Detailed specification for all RSK shelters types completed
This compilation is in prepartion for the RSK shelter pilot.
extract from compilation of RSK specifications
March 2019
RSK pilot proposal reaches final funding shortlist
Over the last few months our RSK funding proposal has progressed through several stages of the HARP F grant application shortlisting procedure.
HARP is a component of DFID and their feedback has been most encouraging.
