GE Worldwide Activities: Aid for Asia
skip to secondary navigationGE and the GE Foundation are providing immediate funds of 10 million yuan ($1.4M) to the Red Cross Society of China and over half a million dollars of equipment and services to enable ongoing emergency relief efforts. This follows the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that shook the country on May 12. More than 12,000 have been reported dead in the Sichuan province, and tens of thousands more are believed to be buried in the rubble. An estimated 3.5 million homes have been destroyed. Approximately 150 GE employees are located in the impacted area, and all have been accounted for.
"The extent of the destruction and loss of life brought about in just a few short minutes is hard to comprehend," said Bob Corcoran, vice president of corporate citizenship. "We are relieved to know our employees in China are safe, and their quick response to this crisis exemplifies the best of GE people everywhere."
The Chinese Red Cross, supported by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, are intensely involved in rescue and relief activities. GE can provide direct support with technical skills, equipment and personnel to support relief efforts and begin the rebuilding process. We are in frequent contact with relief agencies and government organizations to understand their rescue and relief efforts, and identify opportunities to provide GE solutions.
GE has mobilized local field support engineers to help with immediate restoration of power, water and hospital systems. Additionally, GE Volunteers in China are working through their networks to organize local support and align our employees in the region.
GE has also made a contribution to the Red Cross for immediate disaster relief in Myanmar. Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar on May 2, with winds of 120 miles per hour and a storm surge of 12 feet. After making landfall in the Ayeyarwady region, the cyclone continued inland for 155 miles before hitting the city of Yangon late the same night. An estimated 24 million people live in affected areas along the delta, including six million people in Yangon.
More than 38,000 deaths have been reported with an additional 27,000 people missing and more than 2 million in need of shelter, food and fresh water. The relief supply pipeline remains restricted, and supplies and relief workers are encountering serious obstacles reaching the affected regions.
Given the magnitude of this crisis, the support of public and private organizations is vitally important. GE is working with partner non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to determine what support and assistance may be provided to enable relief efforts for the affected people in Myanmar. GE has not done business in Myanmar (Burma) since 1996.