Alarmed at the dimension of havocs wrecked by earthquakes in the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Nigeria based Dangote Foundation on Wednesday moved to provide succor for the victims of the disaster by donating one million dollar to the government and people of the country.
Two major devastating earthquakes, with a moment magnitude of 7.3 and 7.8 respectively had occurred in Nepal on 12 May 2015, killing more than 8,800 people and injuring mover 23,000. The earthquake was reported to have shifted the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest by 3cm South-West.
Dangote Foundation donated the amount, in line with its mandate to provide relief in times of disaster, with a message that the Chairman of the Foundation, Aliko Dangote and people of Nigeria shared in their moment of grief.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou said on behalf of Dangote, during the cheque presentation to the Prime Minister of Nepal, Sushil Koilara at Kathmandu, the country’s capital that the gesture was to support the government’s emergency efforts in providing relief to the victims of the earthquake disasters.
These tragic events were recorded as the worst quakes to hit the Himalayan nation in nearly a century causing a high number of deaths, injuries and an avalanche on Mt. Everest, the world’s highest mountain. Over 600,000 homes were reported to have been destroyed in the catastrophe.
In his message to the Prime Minister, Chairman of Dangote Foundation, Aliko Dangote conveyed his sympathy to the government and people of Nepal, assuring them of the Foundation’s support in rehabilitating the victims of the unprecedented tragedy.
“We join the rest of the world to express our sympathies over this unfortunate incident. We hope this donation will help alleviate the suffering of the Nepalese people who have been devastated by the earthquakes,” Dangote said.
Responding to this kind gesture, the Prime Minister expressed the gratitude of the people and Government of Nepal to Aliko Dangote and the Foundation, for their humanitarian support at this difficult moment in his country’s history.
The Dangote Foundation has been touching lives both within and outside the shores of Nigeria since its establishment in 1993, providing opportunities for social and economic transformation through investments and interventions that improve and promote health, education and broaden economic empowerment opportunities.
In September 2010, the Foundation made a similar donation of $2 million through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), to assist survivors of flood that ravaged Pakistan. Through this donation, the Foundation extended its support to more than 325,000 children in need in that country.
Dangote Foundation spent about $5 million as part of its intervention to combat the Ebola Virus Disease that affected four West African countries namely Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria, last year.
In addition to these, the Foundation donated $16million to the Nigerian government to assist victims of flood that ravaged many states of the federation in 2011.
Dangote endowed the Foundation with $1.35 billion in March 2014, to ensure that the Foundation, has secure and steady funding to carry out its mission as it significantly scales up its work both within and outside the shores of the country.
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