Nedbank partners with Red Cross to support cyclone Idai victims
The banker has committed to raising money in support of the efforts of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
An elderly woman washes her belongings in the mud on March 19, 2019, in Chimanimani, on March 19, 2019, after the area was hit by the Cyclone Idai. – More than a thousand people are feared to have died in Mozambique alone while scores have been killed and more than 200 are missing in neighbouring Zimbabwe following the deadliest cyclone to hit southern Africa. Cyclone Idai tore into the centre of Mozambique on March 14 night before barreling on to neighbouring Zimbabwe, bringing flash floods and ferocious winds, and washing away roads and houses. (Photo by ZINYANGE AUNTONY / AFP)
Nedbank has committed to raising money in support of the efforts of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to bolster the work of Red Cross in alleviating the challenges and suffering for millions of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi residents after the devastating cyclone Idai in March, reports City Buzz.
The IFRC has set a target of raising the equivalent of 31 million Swiss francs, which will be put towards assisting around 200,000 people directly affected by the cyclone, many of who desperately need help with basic living essentials like shelter, food, water sanitation, and hygiene products.
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According to Lindiwe Temba, executive head of Nedbank Foundation, the bank’s support of the IFRC relief efforts forms part of a concerted effort to deliver financial aid for relief efforts in the country. These include a group-wide drive for contributions from staff members across Nedbank and Ecobank.
Lindiwe Temba, executive head of Nedbank Foundation. Photo: Supplied
In addition, Nedbank will donate the full 3.5% send fee of all cross-border remittance transactions sent via the Nedbank Money app into an Ecobank or Xpress account.
“In addition to our extensive network of banks in Africa through our partnership with Ecobank, Nedbank Group itself has subsidiary banking operations in Mozambique, so the impact of cyclone Idai was very acutely felt across our organisation. This, coupled with moral obligation, we have to support the people of not only Mozambique but Zimbabwe and Malawi as well. This made partnering with the Red Cross an obvious course of action for us in this dire situation,” Temba said.
Children play in a new stream created by flooded water after the passage of the cyclone Idai in Tica, Mozambique, on March 24, 2019. Picture: Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
Importantly, while immediate relief efforts are the main focus for the International Red Cross, the organisation intend to continue to help the various communities to build up their resilience for at least the next two years, particularly as the country begins the difficult process of recovering from the loss of food crops, businesses, and employment opportunities.
Temba pointed out that this long-term capacity building focus is very important to Nedbank, as it aligns with the bank’s sustainability commitment to contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Over the past two years, Nedbank has been significantly refocusing its sustainable development strategy to ensure that every aspect of our business and its operations make a tangible and meaningful contribution to many of the SDGs, and [that] the relief efforts in the wake of cyclone Idai link directly to our commitment to many of these goals, particularly those aimed at addressing, hunger, water, poverty and health and wellbeing – all of which are absolute priorities for the people of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi right now,” said Temba.
She also pointed to the IFRC’s recognition of the need to address many secondary challenges facing the people of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi as a key catalyst for Nedbank’s involvement and commitment.
A woman boils plants to eat as the only food she has is maize which was under flooded water after the area was hit and isolated by the Cyclone Idai in Begaja, about 15km east from Estaquinha, Mozambique, March 26, 2019 (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP)
“The emergency response by the Red Cross goes beyond merely providing living essentials, and also addresses the significant challenges associated with the sudden displacement of millions of people into temporary living arrangements. In these circumstances, the potential for social violence can increase, so the relief efforts are also focused on protecting vulnerable members of society like women, children, the elderly, and the disabled.
“These are issues that are very close to Nedbank’s heart and we hope that, through our involvement and contributions, we will be helping to ensure clean, safe, dignified and inclusive living conditions that will enable the people of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi to quickly get back on their feet and restore their country,” she said.
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