Red Cross Kuala Lumpur Emergency Centre

Our continued support to their disaster response centre in Kuala Lumpur means the Red Cross can respond quickly and efficiently to emergencies in the hard-hit Asia Pacific region.

In 2005, AstraZeneca committed over $700,000 to help the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies set up a new regional disaster response centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Opened in 2006, the Centre is strategically located to provide life-saving relief as quickly as possible to the victims of disasters in Asia Pacific region – one of the most disaster prone areas on earth, accounting for around 60% of all natural disasters.

The Centre holds essential pre-positioned emergency stock that is rapidly dispatched and deployed at times of need. Relief items include tents and tarpaulins to protect families from the cold, water containers to distribute clean water, and hygiene kits and mosquito nets to protect families from disease.

The Centre continues to provide a critical service in emergency response, helping victims of both large and small-scale disasters. Over 42,000 people have now received much needed support following emergencies including the Indonesian earthquake in 2006, the Pakistan floods and Bangladesh cyclone in 2007, the cyclone in Myanmar (Burma) and severe floods in Vietnam in 2008, as well as the recent typhoons in the Philippines and earthquakes in Indonesia.

Since our original donation, in recognition of the significant role the Centre continues to play in regional disaster relief, we have made two further donations – one of $200,000 in 2008 and another of $240,000 in October of this year.

Mike Goodhand, Acting Head of Disaster Management, British Red Cross
(October 2009):
"During the recent spate of natural disasters in the Asia-Pacific region, BRC was able to draw quickly and efficiently upon the stock of emergency relief supplies held in the KL centre. AstraZeneca's continued support enables us to maintain a disaster preparedness presence in the region - which means our response is faster and better for vulnerable people affected by these devastating events."

Rhiannon Rowsell, AstraZeneca’s Global Director of Corporate Responsibility:  
"We are proud to support the Kuala Lumpur Centre in its disaster response work, helping to strengthen the Red Cross’ operations and enabling the charity to help more communities affected by disaster now and in the future."

AstraZeneca has a long-standing relationship with the Red Cross. In particular, our partnership is focused on supporting the charity in its work to strengthen local capabilities in the care, prevention and treatment of TB and TB/HIV co-infection in Central Asia and Africa.