Philip Morris International said today that it will provide the Swiss Red Cross with $400,000 to support the relief efforts in Mozambique following Cyclone Idai.
‘In the aftermath of one of the worst tropical cyclones on record to affect Africa, and the Southern Hemisphere as whole, two million people have been left affected, and thousands are in immediate need of emergency shelter, food, water, and medical assistance,’ PMI said in a note posted on its website.
‘Beyond this, the funds will also support people’s livelihoods in the months ahead, as needs will increase for those who have lost their crops and property.’
“We are deeply saddened by the impact of Cyclone Idai,” said Nicolas Denis, vice president leaf at PMI. “The devastation is massive, and the local communities are going through a very difficult time. Our thoughts are with everyone affected. We are working with the Swiss Red Cross to contribute to the relief efforts and support the country as it rebuilds.”
PMI said that it did not have any operations in Mozambique, but that it sourced a significant amount of tobacco from the country.
‘Tobacco is an important crop there, representing a significant contribution to the economy,’ it said. ‘According to our farm monitoring data, the livelihoods of some 600,000 people—farmers, their families and tobacco workers—are dependent directly on tobacco.’