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Safaricom Limited, with the support of the Safaricom Foundation and The Vodafone Group Foundation, together donate KShs 15,000,000 towards humanitarian relief

Safaricom Limited, with the support of the Safaricom Foundation and The Vodafone Group Foundation, together donate KShs 15,000,000 towards humanitarian relief

Published 01-09-08

Submitted by Vodafone

Nairobi - January 9, 2008 - Safaricom and its partners today made a donation of a total of KShs 15 million to the Kenya Red Cross Society towards the emergency relief fund regarding the recent civil unrest. This combined grant includes KShs 5 million (£40,000 sterling) donated by each of The Vodafone Group Foundation, Safaricom Foundation and Safaricom Limited.

The funds will assist the humanitarian organization in delivering assistance to the more than 300,000 Kenyans who have been displaced countrywide as a result of the violence that has erupted in some parts of Kenya following the announcement of results of the 2007 Kenyan general election.

During the presentation of the cheque, Safaricom CEO, Michael Joseph, urged other corporate organizations to support the Kenya Red Cross Society in managing these disaster management efforts so as to alleviate the suffering which has afflicted Kenyans in the affected areas.

"With thousands of Kenyans having been displaced, some going hungry and others without shelter, it falls upon us to respond to the humanitarian crisis. Safaricom will also provide KShs 100,000/- in airtime to assist the Kenya Red Cross Society with its communication needs," said Joseph Les Baillie, Chairman of Safaricom Foundation, said: "In addition to the KShs 15,000,000 announced today, we donated KShs 300,000/- last week to the Kenya Red Cross Society and KShs 200,000/- to the Nation Media Group Save a Life Fund to assist with emergency aid. We are helping our own employees and their families who also require assistance."

The Kenya Red Cross Society sent out a national appeal for KShs 957 million to provide emergency relief services to approximately 300,000 people, who have either been affected or displaced by the ongoing violence.

The emergency relief fund will be specifically used to provide shelter, food and clothing to the displaced persons, basic emergency health care, access to safe water and access to sanitation and hygiene promotion facilities.

The Vodafone Group Foundation, whose local affiliate is Safaricom Foundation, is committed to providing assistance in the area of disaster response. Its main aim is to develop partnerships that enhance long term disaster response and preparedness activity, working with organizations such as the United Nations Foundation, Télécoms Sans Frontières, Oxfam and MapAction. It also seeks wherever possible to make a direct contribution in response to critical humanitarian crises and did so throughout 2007.

The Vodafone Group Foundation has invested over £100 million in projects since its creation in 2002 concentrating on disaster relief, helping disadvantaged children via sport and music initiatives and specific projects across Vodafone's 23 local Foundations worldwide.

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