In March, Idai, an intense tropical cyclone, swept through Southern Africa, leaving more than 1 200 people dead, thousands missing and destroying homes and fields in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

Following the catastrophe, the EIB Group, in an effort coordinated by the EIB Institute, raised funds among its staff, which were topped up by the Bank itself.  An amount of EUR 261 695 was allocated to nine NGOs active in the region: SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde (Luxembourg); SAVE THE CHILDREN (Spain); UNICEF (Luxembourg);  Malteser International (Germany);  CARE (Luxembourg);  CARITAS (Luxembourg); British Red Cross (UK); Handicap International (Luxembourg);  and Médecins du Monde (Luxembourg).

The donation was used to provide emergency aid in the form of life-saving food and water, shelter and equipment (tarpaulins, mosquito nets, blankets, survival kits…) as well as health care and psychological support. It also helped finance vital sanitation work reducing the risk of water-borne diseases in the aftermath of the disaster.

The EIB Institute regularly organises donation campaigns amongst EIB Group staff in the wake of humanitarian catastrophes.