Meta Donates 125M Rupees for Flood Relief Efforts

Facebook-parent Meta Platforms Inc declared on Wednesday that it was donating Rs125 million for flood aid projects in Pakistan. In response to the staggering floods in Pakistan, Meta is contributing 125 million Rupees to UNICEF, Hands and Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) to help flood impacted communities. The donation will support emergency aid, food, water, sanitation and help children get back to school in Sindh, Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Even before this donation when the flooding began, Safety Check was initiated on Facebook as it as it permitted individuals to tell loved ones they were protected and safe. An emergency page was likewise settled where individuals could utilize the Community Help feature to enable people to ask for and offer help from different communities.

“Pakistan is going through one of the worst natural disasters we have seen to date. Millions of people are affected and the entire nation is rallying to support them during this difficult time. We hope that our contributions help the communities impacted by the catastrophe and our thoughts are with these communities and families as they try to recover,” said Jordi Fornies, Director for Emerging Markets, APAC at Meta. “We hope that our contributions help the communities impacted by the catastrophe and our thoughts are with these communities and families as they try to recover.”

The press release also stated about the safety check feature activated on Facebook as well as the crisis for offering help using the ‘community help feature’.

Furthermore, Meta’s ‘Data for Good’ activated its Disaster Maps program and is providing data to regional response partners. One of those partners, CrisisReady (a collaboration between Direct Relief and Harvard University), has focused on combining data sources into situation reports being used daily by thousands of on-the-grounds first responders.

“The torrential monsoon rains over the past weeks have damaged or completely washed away people’s houses, critically affecting millions of people, including children. With winter just weeks away in some parts of the country, we need urgent help to continue our relief efforts in Pakistan and support for children and their families. We express our gratitude to Meta for all the support,” said Michael J. Nyenhuis, President and CEO of UNICEF USA.

“Communities across various Meta-owned platforms have raised more than a million dollars for non-profits supporting flood relief efforts. Leading NGOs across the globe have also raised substantial amounts via Facebook and Instagram,” the press release said.

Communities across various Meta-owned platforms have raised more than a million dollars for non-profits supporting flood relief efforts. Leading NGOs across the globe have also raised substantial amounts via Facebook and Instagram.

Commenting on the development, Baela Raza Jamil, CEO, ITA, said, “We will rehabilitate schools, ensure 2nd Chance Accelerated learning programs with life skills (psychosocial support, climate change and digital literacy), and provide hygiene & health with dignity kits. This is a comprehensive and inclusive approach to #BuildingBackBetter by reaching homes, communities, schools, parents, children, and especially adolescent girls and teachers embedded within government systems for effective emergency response and preparedness.”

Meta is continuously exploring further avenues to facilitate not just families in the devastated regions but also supporting NGOs and other causes in their efforts. “Meta is continuously exploring further avenues to facilitate not just families in the devastated regions but also supporting NGOs and other causes in their efforts,” it added.

Earlier this week, Google launched an international appeal to collect relief funds, asking its billions of users across the globe to donate $15, $25 and $50 each.

It had previously announced a donation of $500,000, while a company official had said at the time employees had contributed over Rs72m in personal donations and company matches.

Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook had likewise stated that his organization would donate to relief and recovery efforts.