German firms scrap Christmas parties

MANILA, Philippines - Christmas parties are being cancelled not only in Philippine companies in sympathy with victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

German industries have joined their government in responding to the crisis, with many also canceling Christmas parties and employees donating their entire 13th month pay to the typhoon victims.

Germany’s acting head of mission Joern Rohde told The STAR in a visit the other day that German industries in the Philippines have provided assistance in kind, through donations of their employees, their own funds and by tapping resources of their headquarters and global networks.

Even without any operations in the Philippines, Deutsche Telekom and many German companies contributed donations to established humanitarian help organizations or through the disaster relief network “Deutschland hilft” (Germany is helping).

Local staff was generous in helping their typhoon-affected fellow citizens as demonstrated by staff of Continental Temic Philippines, who are ready to donate their 13th .

Concrete examples of helping the typhoon victims were also seen in industry efforts.

The Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa Airlines, Lufthansa Technik Philippines, Lufthansa Cargo) brought in on Nov. 11 an Airbus A340-600 carrying 25 tons of relief goods, including medical equipment. This was followed by an MD-11 wide body freighter provided by Lufthansa Cargo free of charge last weekend, having on board another 60 tons of relief goods.

Global enterprise software giant SAP through its local subsidiary SAP Philippines initiated a global donation drive among its 60,000-plus employees who could donate via a simple mouse click a part of their salary. On Thursday, the fund had reached 200,000 euros.

The management matched each donated euro with another euro from company funds.

Boehringer Ingelheim, a leading German pharmaceutical company in the Philippines, followed a similar pattern.

DB Schenker and DHL and other logistic companies provided road transport, storage and packing as well as their freight forwarding expertise for getting goods and equipment to the typhoon-affected areas.

In addition to generous donations, BAG Electronics (lighting and LEDs) and many companies provided financial support for families of staff members who suffered from the typhoon.

They are already thinking beyond short-term humanitarian aid by setting aside budget for the support of sustainable reconstruction efforts like adopting a specific community.

The German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) provided a platform for donations of member companies and individuals.

The GPCCI sent an early truck load of relief goods to Leyte. Further funds are being provided for reconstruction projects in partnership with the devastated town of Javier in Southern Leyte.

The many professional volunteers from Germany that spearheaded humanitarian aid efforts in the crisis area, including medical personnel and technical experts, are in the country after their employers granted them leave for their work in the Philippines.

Germany announced more help for Yolanda victims with 6.5 million euros (P380 million) from the German government for humanitarian aid and 12.9 million euros (P754 million) from private donations.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle announced the additional provision of emergency aid for the typhoon victims, raising the contribution of the German government to 6.5 million euros (P380 million).

The alliance of German organizations engaged in disaster assistance (Aktionsbuendnis Katastrophenhilfe) announced that it has received 12.9 million euros (P754 million) in private donations for the typhoon victims.

According to the alliance, which is composed of Caritas international, Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, the German Red Cross and Unicef Germany, the willingness of the German public to donate for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda is remarkable.

Germany’s Relief Coalition Buendnis Aktion Deutschland Hilft has over a dozen organizations currently in the affected areas conducting relief operations.

A medical team with 24 people from the International Search and Rescue Team (ISAR Germany) opened a field hospital in Palo, Leyte in cooperation with a team from Belgium. The hospital can treat at least 100 people per day for infected wounds and broken bones. The mobile

hospital can also conduct minor surgeries.

The Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) is setting up a water purification system in the city of Santa Fe in Bantayan, Cebu, providing drinking water for more than 30,000 people.