Disaster Relief

Disaster can strike anytime and anywhere. Overall, 206 million people were affected by disaster events in 2011 resulting in global economic losses of $ 366 billion, according to the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters.

When disasters occur in a place where we operate, our local staff are on hand to find out the most essential needs of the community and how we can help.

• In Pakistan in 2010, we stepped in to provide emergency relief to some 1,500 tobacco farm families left homeless by raging floodwaters , and also provided relief to more than 10,000 people who fled the fighting in northwestern Pakistan on the border with Afghanistan.
• In Chile, the earthquake of February 27, 2010 left more than 10,000 people homeless. We contributed to a fund to construct new houses . With the collaboration of more than 300 volunteers, the houses were constructed through the quick and efficient assembly of specially designed pre-fab kits. Our contribution helped give 66 families a chance to regain their footing after this natural disaster had taken away so much from them.
• In Indonesia, Sampoerna Search and Rescue (SAR) Team provided rapid humanitarian response to help victims of major natural disasters that struck the country in October 2010 – including flash flooding in West Papua and the eruption of Mt. Merapi, a volcano near Yogyakarta. The SAR team missions provided: medical services to over 500 people affected by the floods; and, shelter tents for up to 300 victims, food to some 7,000 refugees and medical assistance to over 700 patients, all affected by the volcano eruption.

• In Japan, we provided immediate aid to emergency relief efforts, reconstruction assistance, and support programs for victims of the tsunami that hit the north-east of the country in March 2011. Philip Morris Japan employees actively participated to the relief by donating money and volunteering their time – helping to support 700 people seeking temporary shelter.