In response to the widespread devastation caused by the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities has donated US$400,000 to the Pooled World Health Organisation (WHO) Ebola Response fund.
The contribution from BHP Billiton will provide immediate actions to support affected countries and will provide interventions in neighbouring at risk countries until December 2014.
BHP Billiton has worked in West Africa for a number of years through its iron ore exploration assets.
Business Director West Africa Iron Ore, Graham Reynolds, said: “The West Africa region is in desperate need of international assistance to contain Ebola. It is both a direct and indirect humanitarian disaster impacting on every person living in the affected countries including our employees and contractors past and present.”
BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities is a charity established by BHP Billiton as part of its community investment program. Most projects supported by BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities are multi-year projects and they predominantly focus on building capacity of individuals and institutions, ensuring the programs will leave a lasting positive legacy after completion.