Large gifts from corporates and foundations have helped the
international aid charity Mercy Corps to expand its disaster relief
work in Pakistan and Guatemala.
For operations in Pakistan, where more than 70,000 died in the October
earthquake, Boeing has contributed $1million (£580,000), and the Intel
Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have donated
$500,000 each. The Starbucks Foundation has given $250,000 for relief
in Guatemala, where one estimate put Hurricane Stan’s death toll at
more than 2000.
In Pakistan the donations will help the charity’s efforts to shelter
homeless people from the imminent winter. In both disaster areas the
funds will help to equip mobile medical units in remote locations.
Peter Blomquist, Mercy Corps’ vice-president for constituency
development, said: ‘Our corporate and foundation partnerships are
playing a crucial role in our relief efforts during this unprecedented
year when we are responding simultaneously to so many disasters.’
