How your donations create a beacon of hope for millions of people in crisis
A year full of peaks and valleys lies behind us. Unfortunately, once again, natural forces and humanitarian disasters have affected the world and left us deeply shaken.
However, in these challenging times, one thing has been reaffirmed: The Siemens family stands together and lends a helping hand wherever possible. This was evident not only through in-kind donations and numerous voluntary helpers but also through many contributions to Siemens Caring Hands e.V.
Through your donations and the matching from Siemens AG and Siemens Healthineers over the past four years, an incredible amount of more than 30 million euros has been collected. This has enabled the implementation of over 150 projects. In the last year alone, Siemens Caring Hands received more than 13,800 individual donations.
To illustrate the impact of your donations, the following provides a summary of how your contributions reached people in crisis areas, making a vital difference in their lives.
Ukraine
Since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, Siemens Caring Hands has been supporting both local Ukrainian families and refugees in neighboring countries with the help of the donated funds. As a result, more than 80 projects have already been implemented, not only ensuring the basic needs of those affected but also extending far beyond.
One of these projects involved the conversion of a Siemens building into a refugee shelter in Poland. While Siemens Caring Hands e.V. mobilized the necessary resources for implementation, numerous colleagues from Poland joined forces to carry out the reconstruction on-site. Through the great solidarity and commitment of the employees, a safe and long-term home was created for 160 Ukrainian refugees. Additionally, the refugees receive comprehensive support services, including psychological counseling, language courses, and childcare, aiming to facilitate their path to a hopeful future.
Here you can find more information about the projects in Ukraine.
Turkey and Syria
On February 6, 2023, two severe earthquakes shook the Turkish-Syrian border region. Faced with the devastating destruction of infrastructure and the homelessness of millions, immediate help was urgently needed. With the help of your donations as well as the immediate assistance and matching from Siemens AG and Siemens Healthineers, Siemens Caring Hands has been striving to be a crucial support for the local people since then – whether through assistance in rebuilding critical infrastructure or providing access to medical care, hygiene, nutrition, and education.
The provision of drinking water posed a significant challenge, given that many water networks and pipelines were damaged by the earthquake. Therefore a substantial part of the donation amount supports a project aimed at repairing the water pipelines. In total, these efforts have already benefited 15,000 individuals with access to clean drinking water. An additional 13,000 people received hygiene kits, helping prevent the spread of diseases. Furthermore, the project ensures regular supply of cleaning supplies to five emergency shelters, improving living conditions for approximately 2,000 individuals.
Here you can find more information about the projects in Turkey and Syria.
Morocco and Libya
The earthquake in Morocco and the floods in Libya have deeply affected thousands of people, leaving profound traces. Once again, numerous employees showed their commitment by contributing donations to Siemens Caring Hands e.V., which were matched by Siemens and Siemens Healthineers.
One part of the donation reached the people in Morocco in a very special way. Thanks to students from the University of Eindhoven, the donation check was transported for the first time using the solar-powered off-road vehicle “Stella Terra” for handover to the Dutch Red Cross and the IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies). The Solar Team Eindhoven was in the Moroccan desert shortly after the devastating earthquake, testing their solar-powered off-road vehicle, and quickly recognized the emergency in their host country. The team initiated a donation campaign, in which Siemens Caring Hands promptly participated, significantly contributing to the provision of essential aid such as medical care, food, shelter, and other vital resources.
In Libya, Siemens Caring Hands amongst others enabled the provision with emergency power generators to those affected by floods.
Further projects for providing emergency shelters and rebuilding critical infrastructure in Morocco and Libya are already in progress.
For more information about the donation handover in Morocco, please visit our Blog.
Afghanistan
n early October, Afghanistan was struck by severe earthquakes, causing significant destruction in the Herat region. Additionally, since November 1, all Afghan refugees in Pakistan without legal residency status must return to Afghanistan. The situation at the border is already catastrophic, with many children and their families urgently in need of food and medical care.
Through a donation to the organization Save The Children, Siemens Caring Hands is providing life-saving health and nutrition assistance for the people on the ground. The supported project aims to provide supplementary food, micronutrients, and nutritional supplements to a total of over 134,000 people suffering from acute malnutrition. Additionally, crucial vaccinations and IMCI services (Integrated Management of Childhood Illness) for infants, as well as hygiene promotion and infection prevention for their families, are being offered. The project not only promotes vital curative measures but also prevents a worsening of the situation through targeted preventive actions. The focus of the project is particularly on children under five years old, pregnant and lactating women, vulnerable children, adolescent girls, households led by children, and families with a large number of young children.
Further projects for rebuilding schools and supporting healthcare are already in progress.
Israel and Gaza
With the support of the Siemens AG and Siemens Healthineers AG 1 million euro were donated for immediate humanitarian relief via Siemens Caring Hands to the International Red Cross to support urgently needed aid including medical assistance for Israel and the Gaza Strip. The funds will go directly to organizations affiliated with the International Red Cross – the Magen David Adom (MDA) in Israel and the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRH). In addition, the company will match any donation made by our people.
Your generous support is an inspiring example of how we can make a positive impact together as a community. Once again, a heartfelt thank you to every doner – without your donations, the implementation of these projects would not have been possible!
Would you like to support other initiatives like this? Donate to Siemens Caring Hands e.V. with the keyword of the desired target country. Your donation has a double effect, because Siemens doubles every euro donated to Siemens Caring Hands e.V..