Nokia Press Bulletin Board

Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks today pledged to donate a total of over RMB 53 million to earthquake relief, of which approximately RMB 18 million will be used to address the immediate and acute needs of those most affected. The additional RMB 35 million will be used to start the rebuilding efforts and for other longer term needs in the affected areas.

The devastation caused by the earthquake in Sichuan, China on May 12 was catastrophic. Within 24 hours of the disaster, Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks had made an initial donation of RMB 3 million for use in search and rescue missions. Nokia also donated 5,000 phones with prepaid SIM cards in partnership with Sichuan Mobile. In addition, Nokia sent its Care Vans into the affected regions to supply power and telecommunications to survivors and rescue teams, as well as transport a 25-strong medical team. Nokia also helped in setting up an emergency medical hotline and company volunteer teams gave blood, delivered tents, food, water and medical supplies. Nokia Siemens Networks has established a 24-hour, on-site service for the local operator to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of its network, which is critical in relief and reconstruction work. And Zhiqiang Zhang, Nokia Siemens Networks head of the Greater China Region, visited Chengdu recently to assess what further practical assistance the company could provide in the relief effort for victims.

Longer term efforts will primarily focus in areas such as the offer of psychological/counseling services to school children; helping schools to strengthen knowledge about earthquakes (include providing teachers proper training); providing planning advice to schools on how to do the reconstruction; funding the building of new Hope schools; skills development for employability and re-building livelihoods; expanding the Nokia “Heart to Heart, Hand to Hand” program to ensure more resources for Sichuan; and extending Nokia’s “Touch an orphan’s Life” program to selected disaster areas.

“This disaster has changed the lives of many Chinese people and sadly ended many others. I am proud and humbled by the tremendous and spontaneous efforts and sacrifices our staff in China have made, as well as by the financial donations that have been made by our staff, not only in China, but in several other countries, such as Finland, USA, Canada and Denmark. We are matching these employee donations.” Said David Tang, Vice President, Nokia Greater China.

Nokia’s approach to dealing with disaster relief projects is to focus first on immediate disaster relief, and in the longer term to focus on collaborating with local and state governments, civil societies and NGOs to rebuild families, to offer development assistance to affected children, and to help support rebuilding efforts. This approach has been the same in a number of tragic natural disasters over the last few years, including the Thailand tsunami, hurricane Katrina in the United States and now the tragic Sichuan earthquake.

In 2007, Nokia initiated the over RMB 60 million “Heart to Heart, Hand to Hand” childhood development program in China. This long term program will continue and will now put extra emphasis on the Sichuan province.

Since the earthquake struck Sichuan, China on Monday, May 12th, it has become clear that the scope and scale of this catastrophe is indeed far worse than was considered initially.

Nokia has therefore decided to extend its commitment to help those in need in Sichuan and across China by providing an additional RMB 7 million (approximately EUR 646 000) and an additional 500 mobile devices to help the ongoing disaster relief efforts. The China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation will use Nokia’s cash donations in the most affected areas. The additional mobile phones are already on the way to those parts of Sichuan province where they are most needed.

Nokia’s total donation to-date stands at RMB 10 million and 5 000 mobile devices.

When the devastating earthquake first struck Wenchuan county it became apparent that communications in the region had suffered terrible damage and that this was impairing aid efforts. Nokia immediately responded to this crisis and together with Nokia Siemens Networks donated 4 500 mobile devices and RMB 3 million.

Nokia will continue to closely monitor the situation in the affected areas and provide support as necessary to help alleviate the impact of this catastrophe.

Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks announced today they will make an initial donation of over three million RMB (around 300,000 euros) to help victims of the massive earthquake that hit China’s Sichuan Province on Monday. 

Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks said that in addition to their cash donation, they would match any donations raised by their employees.  

Nokia has earmarked over 4,000 phones for immediate use in ongoing rescue efforts, with the first batch having already arrived, and Nokia Siemens Networks has established a 24-hour, on-site service for the local operator to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of its network. 

Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks extend their condolences and sympathies to those affected by the earthquake, which to date has killed almost 15,000 people.