Shelterbox is a non-profit international disaster relief to provide humanitarian aid worldwide in the form of shelter for people displaced by natural and other disasters.

It is now the largest Rotary club project in the world.

Shelterbox has raised more than $60 million and responded to more than 80 major disasters, including the Indian Ocean tsunami, Cyclone Katrina, Cyclone Nargis in Burma

and last February's Black Saturday bushfires.

Shelterbox Australia is an initiative of the Rotary Club of Endeavour Hills, which started in 2003.

Each Shelterbox contains a 10-person tent, blankets, water purification, cooking and eating equipment, basic tools, a stove and other essential items.

Each box costs $1200, including the cost of all materials, packing, storage, transport worldwide and distribution.

Last week it was reported that rebuilding Port-au-Prince could take a decade or longer.

Haiti president Rene Preval said his country needed at least 200,000 tents to provide shelter for those left homeless.

It is estimated that 692,000 people were living in 591 scattered tent cities.

What is of immediate concern is the imminent arrival of the wet season, which is due this week.

As of January 28, Shelterbox response teams, working with the UN, Rotarians and Haitian authorities, had delivered 656 boxes to Port-au-Prince from Miami and Curacao.

Another 400 were expected to arrive by freighter that day.

Another 700 boxes and 100 loose tents were travelling overland from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

Virgin Atlantic had confirmed it can ship another 500 boxes from Miami and 200 had been flown by the French Red Cross to Santo Domingo.

The total landed commitment is 3300 Shelterboxes, with more being packed by volunteer Rotarians to help with the demand.

Locally, the project is being co-ordinated by Shelterbox Australia's general manager Jenni Heenan.

"This is one of our biggest challenges. Those poor folk in Haiti have lost everything. They will be living in tents for years," she said.

"Shelterbox is the largest Rotary project in the world, being backed by more than 1.2 million Rotarians who not only give their time to volunteer and help us, but also by donating to ensure we have the Shelterboxes for the next call for help."

People who would like to make a donation for the cause can call Jenni Heenan on 1300881913 or email jenni@shelterboxaustralia.org.au< p>