Bangkok--Jan 21--Aziam Burson-Marsteller
Effort follows Monsanto’s commitment of 40 million Baht in aid for victims of the tsunami
The Monsanto Corporation recently donated 4 million baht to support the tsunami relief efforts of the World Food Program (WFP). These funds will help WFP provide critical food aid to people who lost their homes and livelihoods to the devastating floods. In addition to this support, Monsanto is launching a matching gift program to encourage additional donations from its employees. Friends of the World Food Program is one of three organizations included in the matching gift program, which will provide up to an additional 4 million Baht for tsunami relief operations.
“We are very grateful to Monsanto for this generous gift,” said Richard Leach, Executive Director of Friends of the World Food Program. “Their contribution will help feed thousands of people and provide critical support as the tsunami victims struggle to get back on their feet”
Following the devastating tsunamis in the Indian Ocean region, WFP has responded with one of the largest relief efforts it has ever launched. Already, the agency is feeding over one million people affected by the disaster, with plans to feed two million people over the next six months. This includes one million tsunami survivors in the worst-hit country, Indonesia; 750,000 people in Sri Lanka; 50,000 people in the Maldives; and an additional 200,000 people in other affected countries.
Along with providing direct food aid, WFP is also working to strengthen logistics, transport, and communications facilities across the affected region. This will help support the efforts of the entire humanitarian community, facilitating the distribution of all types of assistance, including food, clean water, medicine, shelter, and basic hygiene items.
This initiative follows Monsanto’s earlier pledge to provide 40 million Baht in aid to support the victims of the tsunami disaster.
"Tragically, the tsunami's impact is enormous and the effort to rebuild will take a considerable length of time, and personal recovery even longer, but we are committed to the relief effort for the long term," said Hugh Grant, chief executive officer for Monsanto. "Monsanto has a tradition of supporting disaster relief efforts and it is our hope that this contribution will further enable vital assistance to the hundreds of thousands of families affected by the devastation."
The majority of the money committed by Monsanto will be directed to support longer-term rebuilding efforts. Each Monsanto country office is seeking projects in which employees can participate directly. Helping to restore and make agricultural lands productive again may be one example.
Monsanto is encouraging all employees to offer financial support to the international relief and rebuilding efforts. Employee contributions to the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNICEF or the Friends of the World Food Program will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the company.
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. For more information on Monsanto, see: www.monsanto.com
Friends of WFP is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the public commitment and political leadership necessary to alleviate world hunger. For more information, visit www.friendsofwfp.org.
The World Food Program (WFP) is the largest international food aid organization in the world and the United Nations’ frontline agency in the fight against hunger. In 2003, WFP fed 104 million people in 81 countries. For more information, visit www.wfp.org.
For more information, Please contact:
Aziam Burson-Marsteller
James/Sribenja/Satida
Tel. 0 2252-9871-7 End.