We contribute to disaster relief efforts in partnership with Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN). Nokia cooperates with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to provide financial assistance when disasters occur around the world, while NSN helps to rebuild communications infrastructure.

Drought in Ethiopia
In December 2008, Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks announced their partnership with Save the Children Finland to help alleviate water access problems in Alaba Special Woreda in Northern Ethiopia. This area is highly dependent on rainfall and during the dry season people are forced to travel every day over 20km to fetch water. This situation is made worse by the current drought in Alaba Woreda and has the most impact on children who do not have adequate drinking water and sanitation.

Through the project, six community-managed water points will be set up in Alaba Woreda leading to improved sanitation and health. Together with hygiene education and cash-for-work initiatives for parents, the project will ensure that children are able to stay in school through the drought. In total five basic education centres will be equipped not only with books but also with solar panels to provide electricity.

Furthermore the local community will be trained and equipped with the knowledge and capacity to properly manage and ensure the sustainability of water points within the area.

Read more on the partnership in Alaba Special Woreda

Sichuan Earthquake in China
Since May 2008 Nokia has donated RMB 54 million in cash and materials to disaster relief efforts in Sichuan, in two distinct but complementary phases.

Nokia’s first phase of support focused on urgent needs in the areas most affected by the earthquake. A cooperation with Sichuan Mobile was established and Nokia also set up a volunteer team, sent its Care Vans into the affected regions to supply power and telecommunications, and sent a medical team to the stricken areas.

Nokia donated RMB 16 million in cash to the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) for purchasing necessities, reconstruction of the Jinhua Primary School, Minle Village project, helping 440 orphans and supporting the reconstruction of the Shifang Longju primary school. The second phase is post-disaster reconstruction. Nokia has developed a wealth of knowledge and experience through working with communities, Government departments, and NGOs on what type of projects work best and deliver tangible benefits.

As the first initiative of our disaster reconstruction plan, Nokia joined forces with Youth Business China (YBC) to develop a 10 million RMB program designed to give young entrepreneurs in the disaster-stricken areas a head start in business.

Nokia also joined hands with Sichuan Mobile to advance the Sunshine Program. The initiative is a mobile, post-traumatic stress treatment program designed to help earthquake victims who are in need of emotional support.

Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar
In May 2008, in response to the devastation from the cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, Nokia donated 350,000 Euros to the Red Cross for relief efforts in the country. The cyclone killed over 20,000 people, and the dedicated relief effort was used to restore housing, sanitary conditions and access to food and clean water.

At the end of the year Nokia used its traditional season’s greetings e-card campaign to raise awareness to the Myanmar disaster and donated an additional 250,000 Euros through UNICEF to build schools.