SAP fore fronting Disaster Relief & Rehabilitation...

former_member566217 · ‎11-26-2018

Natural Disasters: an inevitable setback to the human lives and the economy

With global climate change leading to catastrophic events all around the globe, the scale of destruction and devastation is alarming. More than 2 billion people have been affected by natural disasters over the past decade (World Disasters Report 2018, Red Cross).

During early August this year, the southern state of Kerala in India was ravaged by devastating floods, claiming many lives and leaving millions of people homeless. The huge magnitude of the floods caused a massive blow to the society and the economy. The disaster has claimed 483 lives and destructed an estimated value of INR 310,000 million (as per the UN Post Disaster Needs Assessment report). Also, it had affected all 14 districts and adversely impacted 5.4 million people. The biggest after 1924 flood, the state witnessed landslides in 341 places across 10 districts and around 1.74 million houses were damaged fully or partially. As a result, 1.4 million people had to be shifted to relief camps from the affected areas.

(Source: Various prominent national News articles)

The devastating floods caused maximum damage to the transport sector, followed by housing, agriculture, fisheries and animal husbandry, as well as livelihood. Further, shortage of food, necessary supplies and infrastructure became the biggest challenge after the disaster hit the state, leading to a nation-wide call for action to provide aid.

In times of crisis like these, SAP forefronts the relief activities to rebuild and support the affected communities. We, being a responsible corporate house, strongly believe in creating a social impact. We put our best foot forward to help the needy and strive to bring back their lives to normal. We are sure our efforts must have touched a few hundred lives. Our daily learning process also helps in this regard as we take cues from the stories scripted by real heroes. Moreover, the effort of 4537 fishermen who saved more than 65,000 people in Kerala floods with just 669 boats will keep us inspiring to do better work for mankind.

SAP approaches corporate social responsibility strategically in order to ensure a sustainable future for society, our customers, and our community. SAP has actively supported relief work in India - at the time of the Bhuj Earthquake in 2001, Karnataka Flood Relief in 2008, Uttarakhand Flood Relief in 2013, J&K Flood Relief in 2014, and Chennai Flood Relief in 2015, wherein we collaborated with other organizations to contribute towards the socio-economic redevelopment in these regions.

During the floods in Kerala and Kodagu (in the southern state of Karnataka), SAP joined hands with HOPE foundation to provide aid to several families affected in these areas. SAP provided 13 tons of relief materials to 4,936 people in Wayanad, Paravoor, Idukki, Chowra and Aluva localities.

SAP employees contributed several volunteering hours, from cleaning to disinfecting the homes of elderly people. Over 12 tons of supplies were donated to the victims in Suntikoppa, Madikeri, Makkandoor, Hemmithaloo, Kategeri and Jodupuala. This also allowed the relief materials to reach the elderly and the underserved who were too weak, isolated from family or afraid to venture out into relief camps. In addition, 50 families in Puthenvelikkara and 37 families in Iggodlu were identified and provided with clothes, utensils and clean drinking water.

Our CSR team played its role in the most diligent manner, leveraging our human resources, their skills and passion to help the needy and unreached. And, in return, we have built empathetic and purpose-driven leaders while engaging into volunteering initiatives.