PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Diversified miners BHP, Rio Tinto and Glencore have all donated to flood recovery efforts in Queensland and New South Wales.
BHP has announced that it would donate A$2-million to the Australian Red Cross to support emergency relief efforts for those impacted by the floods, which to date have seen over 30 000 houses flooded in Queensland and 34 000 evacuations.
As the floods are extending south into New South Wales, over 500 000 people are on flood warnings or evacuation orders. Access, road closures and infrastructure damage is extensive, making rescue efforts problematic, and interruption to supply chains is impacting supplies of food and essential items to affected areas.
BHP said this week that its donation would help Australian Red Cross continue to provide immediate support through evacuation centres, communications, essential supplies (drinking water, food, and clothing), water/sewage treatment, access to power/Internet and cleaning supplies. It will also support longer-term recovery programmes which recognize the cumulative effect multiple recent disasters including bushfires, Covid and floods have had on the community’s psychosocial and economic health.
Meanwhile, Ri Tinto has donated A$1.5-million in disaster relief and recovery efforts, supporting the Australian Red Cross, BizRebuild and Givit.
The miner is also offering immediate financial support to employees directly impacted by the floods, as well as providing staff involved in recovery efforts, such as Queensland’s ‘Mud Army’, with full paid leave. In addition to this, the company will match any staff donations to flood relief causes.
Glencore, for its part, will donate A$2-million towards the Salvation Army’s 2022 Flood Appeal, which is aiming to raise A$10-million to support the east coast communities.