The world's local bank
Disaster relief
In late 2004 and 2005, we made donations to a number of global appeals following a series of natural disasters that affected millions of people around the world. Our employees also got involved in a wide range of volunteering and fundraising initiatives.
| CASE STUDIES |
Earthquake, Kashmir
Background:
In October 2005, an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale decimated parts of northern Pakistan and India. As many as 60,000 people were killed, while 3.5 million were left homeless.
HSBC’s response:
In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, HSBC gave US$500,000 to local aid agencies and to the President of Pakistan Relief Fund.
Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita
Background:
Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita wreaked havoc in parts of the United States in 2005, leaving thousands of people homeless.
HSBC’s response:
HSBC donated more than US$300,000 to local education and healthcare charities in the area. It also matched US$200,000 employee donations, taking the total donated to hurricane relief efforts to more than US$770,000.
Hundreds of HSBC employees in the United States volunteered to support the relief efforts:
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Employees co-ordinated more than 13 ‘Food-bank’ initiatives at local HSBC sites, including clothing drives, Adopt-a-School programmes and fundraisers.
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Employees in Delaware prepared 1,376 pounds of food for distribution to hungry families.
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More than 1,000 HSBC employees at seven sites throughout the US volunteered in a disaster relief telethon. They took more than 26,000 calls and collected US$2.33 million in donations for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund in conjunction with NBC’s telethon ‘A concert for hurricane relief’.
Tsunami
Background:
More than a million people living in coastal areas around the Indian Ocean were affected by the tsunami on 26 December 2004.
The U.S. Geological Survey suggests that as many as 283,100 people lost their lives in the massive waves, while 14,100 are still missing, and 1,126,900 were displaced from their homes.
HSBC’s response:
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A year after the tsunami, HSBC and its employees worldwide have donated more than US$4.5 million towards a wide number of recovery initiatives, while local staff have been involved in a range of volunteering initiatives.
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HSBC, through the Hongkong Bank Foundation, gave US $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies within 48 hours of the disaster.
- HSBC set aside US$1million to match staff donations to international disaster relief campaigns following the tsunamis.
(Read more here)
These projects included:
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a US$470,000 modular medical centre on the west coast of Aceh, Indonesia. (Read more here). The clinic was constructed from 40-foot containers and is able to treat 100 patients every day. The innovative design allows the clinic to be expanded over time or relocated when required.
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a temporary housing project for those displaced by the tsunami in Phang-nga province in Thailand.
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rebuilding an elementary school in Banda Aceh, one of the areas worst affected by the tsunami. Thirty HSBC staff volunteered to work with the Save Aceh Foundation, a local non-governmental organisation, on the project to get more than 100 students back to school.
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a drama programme to help more than 300 Sri Lankan youngsters affected by the tsunami to cope with stress, fear, anger and depression through drama therapy.
Downloads
2007 Sustainability Report
(39 page pdf 1,744K)
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