Disaster and emergency relief
Since 2003, Barclays has supported the British Red Cross and other national organisations by donating more than £3m to help aid victims of disasters around the world. Since the beginning of 2009 over £1m has been committed to a number of emergency appeals. Below is a selection of the causes that we have supported.
Find out more
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February 2011 Brazil Flood Relief
Barclays has contributed £50,000 to the Brazilian Red Cross following the devastating mudslides caused by heavy rains in the country in January this year.
The mudslides caused widespread destruction in Rio de Janeiro’s mountain areas, killing more than 600 people and leaving many thousands homeless and displaced due to damaged roads, land and bridges.
The worst affected area is the rural town of Nova Friburgo, where at least 247 people died. It has had all its basic services interrupted - water, electricity and is experiencing food shortages.
The donation will help local communities in their efforts to rebuild homes and support the livelihoods of those affected.
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February 2011 Kenya Drought Relief
Barclays has contributed £93,000 to the Kenyan Red Cross to support the 1.8 million people who are being affected by a drought in parts of country, following depressed rainfall conditions at the end of last year.
The provinces of Rift Valley, Eastern, North Eastern and Coast are most badly affected, with reports of livestock deaths, acute food shortage and increased migration by pastoral communities due to depletion of pasture and water for livestock.
The donation will help provide supplies to affected communities.
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August 2010 Pakistan Flood Relief
In response to the disaster in Pakistan, Barclays donated a total of £225,000 to support relief efforts in the country.
The Red Cross/Red Crescent received £100,000 to provide emergency healthcare and shelter, food packs, and water to people in the affected areas of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Sindh and Punjab, as well as parts of Baluchistan provinces.
A further £125,000 has been committed to support medium to long-term recovery efforts in the country.
Barclays Pakistan colleagues have also been taking part in a number of volunteering and fundraising activities to support short-term relief efforts. -
March 2010 Chile Earthquake
Barclays donated £50,000 to Red Cross relief efforts in Chile, after a huge earthquake struck close to the city of Concepción, affecting more than two million people.
The Red Cross used Barclays donation to provide shelter for around 5,000 families who lost their homes. The Red Cross also responded with first aid, logistical support and humanitarian relief and took responsibility for all public service announcements to advise residents of the region on how to deal with aftershocks. -
January 2010 Haiti Earthquake
In response to the Haiti Earthquake appeal, Barclays donated a total of £500,000. The Red Cross received a total £250,000 to undertake continued logistical support and humanitarian relief in the disaster zone.
The donation also saw UNICEF receive £250,000 under the existing ‘Building Young Futures’ partnership with Barclays to support Haiti’s orphans.
The money will go towards a project aimed at re-establishing the provision of education across the country.
Rachael Barber, Director, Global Community Investment, said: “Following the earthquake in Haiti, it is vital that funding is made available for emergency relief, and we know that Barclays donation to the Red Cross will make a big difference.
“But extensive funding will also be needed to rebuild the country.
“That’s why we are working closely with UNICEF to develop a project that will support children affected by the disaster, many of whom have lost their entire families. -
October 2009 Asia Pacific Earthquake/Typhoon Appeal
Barclays donated £100,000 to support the Red Cross relief efforts in the Asia-Pacific region following flooding in the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, the earthquake in Indonesia and the tsunami in the Samoan Islands.
In the Philippines, Typhoon Ketsana caused severe flooding in the capital Manila and nearby provinces.
The typhoon spread to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, putting millions of people at risk of disease and food shortages.
A strong earthquake followed by a tsunami hit the Samoan Islands, in the Pacific. This was followed by another earthquake off the west coast of Indonesia. -
April 2009 Italian Earthquake Appeal
Barclays donated £25,000 to the British Red Cross Italy Earthquake Appeal. The 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck the city of L'Aquila in central Italy, 120 km northeast of Rome, in the early hours of Monday 6 April.
The Italian Red Cross responded with health, first aid, logistics and humanitarian relief. It has also established a field hospital to relieve the burden on local health facilities and set up mobile kitchens which can provide 10,000 meals a day. -
April 2009 Southern Africa Flood Relief
Barclays donated £50,000 to Red Cross relief efforts in Botswana and Zambia which were particularly affected by severe flooding across southern Africa.
Torrential rains left thousands of people at risk of displacement, disease and food shortages.
Barclays donation was split equally between Botswana and Zambia. In Zambia 5,000 homes were destroyed in the southern province, displacing about 20,000 people with a further 25,000 households at risk.
Many other provinces in the country were also affected by the flooding, causing serious problems with roads and infrastructure and access to water and sanitation.
Some 85 per cent of crops in the region were destroyed – leaving children highly vulnerable to malnutrition.
Botswana was also severely affected with hundreds displaced, a strong risk of a cholera outbreak and many villages and settlements threatened by further flooding.
Barclays Botswana used its 52 branches across the country to collect donations such as clothing and food hampers.
The floods also affected Angola, Namibia, Malawi and Madagascar. The Red Cross provided basic humanitarian aid across the region, including mosquito nets, tarpaulins and water purification sachets.
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