WASHINGTON, May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Immediately following the
cyclone that ravaged Myanmar on May 2 and the earthquake that hit Sichuan
China on May 12, Business Roundtable's Partnership for Disaster Response
moved quickly to activate its international emergency network to assess,
aid and expedite the response to both disasters. The Partnership for
Disaster Response is an initiative to galvanize the business community to
contribute its vast resources -- beyond financial contributions -- to
accelerate on-the-ground relief and recovery activities following major
disasters. The Partnership's ability to draw upon existing relationships
with relief agencies on the ground has proven all the more vital given the
political complications and logistical obstacles impeding the relief
efforts in both countries.
"The main lesson we learned from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was the need
to be prepared for unexpected, extenuating circumstances, which is why the
Partnership for Disaster Response was developed," said Richard Keyser,
chairman and CEO of W.W. Grainger, Inc. and chairman of the Partnership for
Disaster Response. "The business community is deeply concerned about those
affected by these tragic disasters in Myanmar and China, and we stand ready
to assist our partner relief agencies in the most effective capacity."
Immediately after the cyclone struck Myanmar, Business Roundtable
reached out to its contacts at the largest global humanitarian agencies to
identify what supplies, services and expertise the business community could
provide to expedite the relief effort. Business Roundtable's NGO partners
on-the-ground in Myanmar and China, including Save the Children and World
Vision are providing regular updates on their assessments of the crisis but
have not yet called upon the business community for in-kind contributions.
The Partnership is emphasizing that due to the challenges of
transportation, companies -- and the general public -- should hold off
sending any supplies. One of the Partnership's key findings is that
unsolicited donations often hinder a relief effort because they can clog
transportation systems or overcrowd warehouse space that is needed to store
and ship more urgently needed supplies (please see the Partnership's "The
Do's and Don'ts of Effective Giving" for more information on this issue).
Business Roundtable is also working closely with the American Red
Cross, which has been providing regular updates on the activities of the
International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies, active in
both Myanmar and China. China's Ministry of Civil Affairs has formally
requested assistance from the international community and authorized the
Red Cross Society of China to receive donations to help the affected areas.
The International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies announced
an appeal for funding to purchase supplies including food, drinking water,
medical help and tents, but stated that all supplies will be procured
locally.
Business Roundtable companies have donated more than $8.7 million to
date in cash and in-kind contributions to the relief efforts, with more
than $4.1 million to bring much-needed aid to the affected areas in
Myanmar, and nearly $4.6 million to support relief work in China. In the
immediate stages of disaster response, relief agencies typically request
cash contributions to enable relief workers to buy essential supplies
locally and revitalize economies that have been shaken by the disaster
(please see the Partnership's "The Top 10 Myths of Disaster Relief" for
more details).
"The Partnership is committed to coordinating the most effective
approach to disaster response and recovery efforts, and communication is
key to our success," said Tom Lehner, director of public policy at Business
Roundtable. "The collaboration we put in place with the American Red Cross
last year is producing clear results-through strong contacts and clear
communications, we are able to mobilize our companies to respond as
efficiently as possible to help those in need."
Neal Denton, Senior Vice President of Government Relations and
Strategic Partnerships at the American Red Cross, commented, "In times of
emergency, having established relationships is invaluable. Our partnership
with Business Roundtable has shown that strong networks of communications
can have immediate, powerful effects, whether the urgent needs are for
in-kind contributions, as was the case during last year's California
wildfires, or for cash contributions to facilitate the disaster operations
in Myanmar and China."
Updated information on Business Roundtable company contributions can be
found at the Partnership for Disaster Response Web site --
http://www.respondtodisaster.org -- the first comprehensive clearinghouse of
information to help the business community prepare and respond to
disasters.
Business Roundtable (http://www.businessroundtable.org) is an association of
chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies with $4.5 trillion in
annual revenues and nearly 10 million employees. Member companies comprise
nearly a third of the total value of the U.S. stock markets and represent
over 40 percent of all corporate income taxes paid. Collectively, they
returned $112 billion in dividends to shareholders and the economy in 2005.
Partnership for Disaster Response (http://www.respondtodisaster.org) aims to
bring together the many resources and capabilities of the private sector to
enhance and accelerate on-the-ground relief and recovery following major
natural disasters in the United States and abroad. It works to foster
public- private collaborations to prepare for the health, social and
economic burdens that disasters can create and to ensure that the business
community's response efforts address the most critical needs and mobilize
the unique technologies and resources of its member companies.
Contact: Kirk Monroe
Business Roundtable
(202) 496-3269
SOURCE Business Roundtable
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Related links:
http://www.businessroundtable.org
http://www.respondtodisaster.org
CONTACT:
Kirk Monroe of Business Roundtable,
+1-202-496-3269
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