Apple donates $1.6 million to aid Chinese earthquake victims
In an email to employees, Apple CEO Tim Cook has expressed his “deepest sympathies” to the people of Yunnan, China who were recently struck by an earthquake. He also said that Apple will provide a $1.6 million monetary donation to those groups providing relief efforts, according to 9to5Mac.
Cook notes:
Team,
Our deepest sympathies go out to the people of China’s Yunnan Province, which was struck by a devastating 6.5-magnitude earthquake over the weekend. Nearly 600 people died and over 2,400 were injured in the worst earthquake to hit the region in 100 years. Rescuers have evacuated 230,000 people who are now displaced from their homes. The road to Longtoushan Township, the epicenter of the quake, has been blocked by landslides, making the rescue effort there even more challenging. Apple is eager to help. We are making a financial donation in support of the work of Mercy Corps and CFPA (China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation) to get supplies and relief to those affected by the earthquake and to help them through the process of healing and recovery. The tragedy in Yunnan Province is on the minds of many in the Apple community. Apple has over 6,500 employees in China and Hong Kong as well as a growing developer community and deep ties to the workers in our supply chain who make Apple products. In this time of tragedy, our thoughts are with the victims and their families.
To date, 589 people have lost their lives in the disaster.
This isn't the first time Apple has come to the aid of victims of a natural disaster.
In 2013, Apple accepted donations to aid victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. A year earlier, the company donated $2.5 million for Hurricane Sandy relief in the United States.
Photo: Getty Images
