Shelter provides more than material comfort

Hundreds of people left with damaged homes were yesterday expected to spend a second night at Civil Defence welfare centres around Christchurch.

An official at the Burnside High School centre, based in a gymnasium, said more than 100 people slept there on Saturday night, with many expected to return last night.

Most people who came to the centre were visitors, immigrants or refugees with no family or friends in Christchurch and nowhere else to go.

"They were just scared and wanted people to talk to," he said.

All had been supplied with necessities, with members of the public donating more than enough food and blankets, he said. The centre even set up a prayer room for Muslims observing Ramadan, the month of fasting.

Staff from St John, Work and Income New Zealand, Housing New Zealand, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army were on hand to assist people, while a catering company was providing meals.

Ilam resident Sheldyn Wells said the centre had provided him with much-needed comfort.

He said he arrived at the centre about 3.30pm on Saturday and was expecting to spend his second night there.

"I feel safe here," he said.

"My house is fine, but I became pretty petrified after the quake and I didn't feel like I could be alone, so I mainly came here to be around people."

- © Fairfax NZ News