While most of us were tucking into turkey this Christmas, Cornwall based charity Shelterbox was busy helping people in Colombia, after the country's devastating floods.

Part of the emergency response team, Stranger's own Helen Gilchrist has been distributing boxes to get families back on their feet after the worst floods in the country's history, which have seen 1.9 million people in 28 of the country's 32 departments affected.

As well as destroying 400,000 homes, the floods have also made access to the affected areas incredibly difficult. Roads and bridges have been washed away or blocked by mudslides and whole towns have been submerged beneath up to 9 metres of water.

Helen and the team have had to use boats, canoes, motorcycles and four-wheel drives to access isolated communities, distribute boxes and set up tents in areas like Barranca Veija, in Bolivar, where over 6,000 people have lost their homes.

‘They’ve been living in makeshift tarpaulin shelters with up to five families crammed into each one,' explained SRT member Tom Lay (UK). 'The need here was critical and we’re pleased to have brought relief to some of the most vulnerable families displaced by these floods.'

'We’re so happy and grateful for our ShelterBox gift,' said Grace Moscortez, from Barranca Vieja. 'Life in the cambuches (tarpaulin shelters) was really tough - the heat, the mosquitoes, the leaks when it rains, the lack of privacy. My family and I are going to sleep very well in my lovely new tent tonight.'

Well done to Helen and the Shelterbox Response team for their hard work.

For the full story and updates on the team's work in Colombia, head to www.shelterbox.org