Cargill supports rebuilding efforts in Pakistan’s Swat Valley
Singapore, Wednesday 19 August 2009 — Demonstrating continued commitment to corporate responsibility, Cargill today presented a donation of USD 75,000 (equivalent to about SGD 110,000) to Mercy Relief to help refugees from Pakistan’s Swat Valley rebuild lives and livelihoods. Munir Hasan, Director and Regional Financial Controller of Cargill Asia Pacific Holdings and country representatives of Cargill Pakistan, presented the donation on the occasion of the Observance Ceremony held by Mercy Relief to commemorate World Humanitarian Day.
With the fighting between the militants and the Pakistani Army subsided, it is now deemed safe enough for some two million displaced residents of Swat Valley and adjacent areas to go back home. This major humanitarian crisis unfolded earlier in the year after the Pakistani Taliban broke a peace deal. What refugees will return to is dire: destroyed homes, severely damaged infrastructure, schools and clinics in shambles, and lost livelihoods.
Cargill’s donation will support Mercy Relief’s rebuilding efforts in the district of Mingora by establishing a Maternity & Children Healthcare Centre (MCHC). Projects like these are not only important to restore much deteriorated healthcare infrastructure and help communities rebuild, but also to provide much needed medical services to some of the most vulnerable groups.
The facility will cover general, pediatric and maternity care. It will offer early screening of childhood diseases by providing vaccination and immunization, and be a one stop centre for pregnant women for ante and post natal care. The facility includes living quarters for medical personnel so that the Centre can operate on a 24-hour basis. The project will commence in September 2009.
Cargill and Mercy Relief’s co-operation dates back to 2004. Since then they partnered on several occasions to help victims of natural disasters by supporting both immediate relief and long-term re-building efforts including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami; the South Asian earthquake in 2005 and Cyclone Nargis in 2008.
As a gesture of goodwill and gratitude, Mercy Relief’s Advisor, Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi, presented a token of appreciation and friendship to Cargill at the Observance Ceremony that was received by Mr Bruce Blakeman, Vice President Corporate Affairs Asia Pacific.
For more information, please contact:
Beate Bieniek
Regional Communications
Director Cargill Asia Pacific
Direct: +65-6393 8293 / Mobile: +65-9728 3396
Siti Aminah Sayadi
Senior Manager, Corporate Affairs & Innovation
Mercy Relief
Direct: +65 6514 6325 / Mobile: +65 945 77527
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About Cargill Worldwide and Cargill in Pakistan
Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 159,000 people in 68 countries. Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and is committed to applying its global knowledge and experience to help meet economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business. Cargill’s activities in Pakistan started in 1984. Presently the company employs eight people who are engaged in the trading of edible oil and cotton. T he company also markets products such as fertilizer, oilseeds, wheat and sugar through locally appointed agents. For more information, visit www.cargill.com.
About Mercy Relief
Mercy Relief is an independent non-governmental humanitarian charity, established in response to the human tragedies in Asia. It aims to promote a civic life of compassion, care and volunteerism amongst Man. Its aid programmes include providing timely and effective assistance to disaster-stricken locations; and longer-term development projects to uplift the lives of impoverished and disadvantaged communities, focusing on water & sanitation, shelter, healthcare, basic education and sustainable livelihoods.
Mercy Relief is governed by a Board of Directors comprising multi-racial corporate and social leaders. It was officially launched by then-Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in September 2003, and extends its services to all regardless of country, culture or creed. It is an Institution of Public Character since 2003.
To date, Mercy Relief has touched the lives and hearts in more than 17 countries in Asia, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, the Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Palestine, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and Yemen. www.mercyrelief.org
