Shelter Now

Shelter Now, also known as Shelter Now International or SNI, is a Christian humanitarian aid organization based in Germany. Although its work began in the late 1970s, the organization was not formally registered as an international aid organization until 1983. Its activities have been shaped by war, displacement, local political conditions, security risks, donor resources, and the practical needs of communities affected by conflict and natural disasters. The organization became particularly associated with Afghanistan during and after the Soviet–Afghan War. From 1988 onward, it concentrated substantial attention on Afghan refugees and on reconstruction projects intended to support displaced and impoverished communities. Its work has included the development of factories producing roof beams and other construction materials, homebuilding, irrigation rehabilitation, schools, health clinics, agricultural and livestock support, and winter-relief distributions. In some projects, Shelter Now worked with local or international partners such as Afghanaid. One approach involved helping construct homes for landowners in exchange for commitments not to cultivate opium on their land, linking physical reconstruction with efforts to reduce reliance on the narcotics economy. Shelter Now also worked in Pakistan, including among Afghan refugee communities around Peshawar. Its operations there experienced serious security threats in 1990, when an office at the Nasir Bagh refugee camp was attacked, supplies and vehicles were stolen or destroyed, and the organization's workshop was damaged. The group's director, Thor Armstrong, later survived an armed attack while traveling near Peshawar. Shelter Now's activities also extended beyond Afghanistan and Pakistan. In 1996, personnel working in Iraqi Kurdistan fled toward the Turkish border because of violence associated with the Iraqi Kurdish Civil War. The organization attracted worldwide attention in 2001 after Taliban authorities raided its Kabul office and detained Western and Afghan employees. The Taliban accused the workers of possessing Christian literature and attempting to convert Muslims, allegations Shelter Now representatives disputed. Eight Western workers—including two Americans, two Australians, and four Germans—remained in custody for roughly one hundred days. After the September 11 attacks and the subsequent international crisis surrounding Afghanistan, their detention became an internationally prominent humanitarian and diplomatic issue. Northern Alliance forces released the eight Westerners near Ghazni on November 15, 2001, and U.S. Special Forces transported them by helicopter to Islamabad. Shelter Now resumed its Afghan operations in the summer of 2002 and continued to support reconstruction, education, health, and other humanitarian programs. In January 2006, it contributed to winter-relief efforts in Pakistan and the Kashmir region following the October 2005 earthquake, distributing or helping provide tents fitted with stoves, blankets, and mattresses. Since 2014, the organization has also supported refugees in Iraqi Kurdistan who were displaced by the Islamic State. It continues to identify its work with Christian service while operating through practical aid, reconstruction, and community assistance. Donations from churches in Europe and the United States have been an important part of its support base.

Shelter Now's work began in the late 1970s, before the organization formally registered as an international aid organization in 1983. Its early identity was that of a Christian relief group serving people affected by poverty, displacement, and armed conflict. Shelter Now International was based in Wisconsin until 1990, after which its institutional base became associated with Germany. Afghanistan became the central focus of the organization's work during the late stages of the Soviet–Afghan War. Beginning in 1988, Shelter Now directed significant resources toward Afghan refugees and reconstruction. Projects included the production of roof-building materials, rehabilitation of irrigation systems, construction of houses, and assistance with schools and clinics. In cooperation with Afghanaid, it supported home construction in circumstances where landowners agreed not to cultivate opium. It also helped establish a demonstration house that was temporarily used by field staff in Achin District. In Paktia Province, the organization assisted with concrete-beam production, while in Balkh Province it completed an animal-vaccination program. From approximately 1992, it operated four roof-beam factories in Afghanistan to make low-cost construction more feasible. Shelter Now's presence in the region also exposed it to threats. In April 1990, militants associated with the Islamic Youth Movement attacked the organization's project office at the Nasir Bagh refugee camp in Peshawar, Pakistan. The attackers objected to Western involvement and viewed some activities, including facilities intended to improve hygiene for women, as culturally disruptive. Approximately 75 tons of powdered milk were taken, 19 vehicles were stolen or destroyed, and the vehicle workshop was damaged. On June 16, 1990, armed men fired on a vehicle carrying director Thor Armstrong and his son after Armstrong declined to stop. Neither was injured, but Armstrong moved his family away from Peshawar shortly afterward. In 1996, Shelter Now workers in Iraqi Kurdistan fled toward the Turkish border during violence connected with the Iraqi Kurdish Civil War. The most consequential episode in the organization's history began on August 3, 2001, when Taliban police raided Shelter Now's Kabul offices and arrested American aid workers Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry. Additional arrests followed, bringing the number of detained Shelter Now personnel to 24, including four Germans, two Australians, and 16 Afghans. The Taliban alleged that the organization possessed Bibles and Christian literature and videos in Dari and Pashto and was seeking to convert Muslims. Shelter Now denied that it had conducted the kind of organized proselytizing alleged by the authorities. The detention of the eight Western workers became especially sensitive after the September 11 attacks, when the Taliban's refusal to surrender Osama bin Laden led to military confrontation with the United States and its allies. On November 15, 2001, Northern Alliance forces freed the eight Western detainees near Ghazni. U.S. Special Forces helicopters then carried them to Islamabad. Shelter Now returned to Afghanistan in the summer of 2002 and resumed work in reconstruction, education, health, and related aid. In January 2006, it participated in winter assistance for earthquake-affected communities in Pakistan, Kashmir, and the North-West Frontier Province, helping provide tents equipped with stoves as well as blankets and mattresses. Since 2014, its regional work has included assistance to refugees in Iraqi Kurdistan displaced by the Islamic State. The organization remains associated with Afghanistan and relies in part on support from churches in Europe and the United States.

• 2014

  Support for Islamic State-displaced refugees

  [1]Shelter Nowen.wikipedia.org

  Shelter Now began supporting refugees in Iraqi Kurdistan displaced by the Islamic State.

• 2006

  Earthquake winter-relief assistance

  [1]Shelter Nowen.wikipedia.org

  The organization supported relief for earthquake-affected communities in Pakistan and Kashmir with shelter and winter supplies.

• 2002

  Return to Afghanistan

  [1]Shelter Nowen.wikipedia.org

  Shelter Now resumed Afghan operations in the summer, continuing reconstruction and humanitarian programs.

• 2001

  Taliban detention of Shelter Now personnel

  [1]Shelter Nowen.wikipedia.org

  Taliban authorities detained 24 Shelter Now workers, including eight Western employees, during a dispute over alleged proselytism.

• 2001

  Western detainees released

  [1]Shelter Nowen.wikipedia.org

  Northern Alliance forces released eight Western Shelter Now workers near Ghazni on November 15; they were then flown to Islamabad by U.S. Special Forces.

• 1992

  Roof-beam factory program develops in Afghanistan

  [1]Shelter Nowen.wikipedia.org

  Shelter Now operated four Afghan factories producing roof beams intended to support lower-cost construction.

• 1990

  Peshawar project office attacked

  [1]Shelter Nowen.wikipedia.org

  An attack damaged Shelter Now's Nasir Bagh facilities and resulted in the theft or destruction of food supplies, vehicles, and workshop equipment.

• 1988

  Afghan refugee assistance becomes a major focus

  [1]Shelter Nowen.wikipedia.org

  The organization concentrated substantial activity on Afghan refugees displaced by the Soviet–Afghan War and on related reconstruction projects.

• 1983

  Formal registration as an international aid organization

  [1]Shelter Nowen.wikipedia.org

  Shelter Now formally registered as an international humanitarian organization after beginning relief work in the late 1970s.

Christian humanitarian relief and reconstruction for refugees, displaced populations, and communities affected by conflict or natural disaster.

• Construction and reconstruction support · 1992

  Roof-beam production

  Shelter Now developed and operated factories producing roof beams and related construction materials in Afghanistan. The program was intended to make durable, low-cost housing and rebuilding more practical for communities affected by war and displacement. By approximately 1992, four such factories were operating.

• Humanitarian reconstruction

  Community reconstruction

  The organization's reconstruction work has included homes, irrigation systems, schools, health clinics, concrete-beam production, and related local infrastructure. Some projects combined construction assistance with livelihood or agricultural objectives, including commitments intended to discourage opium cultivation.

• Emergency humanitarian aid · 2006

  Emergency and winter relief

  Shelter Now has provided or helped distribute emergency shelter and winter supplies for displaced and disaster-affected populations. Documented assistance includes tents fitted with stoves, blankets, and mattresses for communities affected by the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan and Kashmir.

• 2001

  Taliban allegations of proselytism and detention of aid workers

  The Taliban accused Shelter Now personnel of possessing Christian literature and attempting to convert Muslims. Twenty-four workers were detained, including eight Western employees. Shelter Now representatives rejected the characterization of its work as organized proselytizing. The eight Western workers were released on November 15, 2001.

  Source

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• 2014

  Expand refugee assistance to Iraqi KurdistanStrategy

  Background

  The advance of the Islamic State displaced large numbers of people into Iraqi Kurdistan.

  Action taken

  Shelter Now began providing support to refugees in Iraqi Kurdistan while remaining active in Afghanistan.

  Aftermath

  The organization's operating focus broadened to include another major regional displacement crisis.

  Source

• 2002

  Resume humanitarian operations in AfghanistanStrategy

  Background

  The organization's Afghan work had been disrupted by the Taliban detention crisis and the international conflict surrounding the September 11 attacks.

  Action taken

  Shelter Now returned to Afghanistan in the summer of 2002 and continued reconstruction, clinic, school, and other aid programs.

  Aftermath

  Afghanistan remained the organization's principal area of activity.

  Source

1. 1Shelter Nowen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Shelter Now official websiteshelter.de