Coca-Cola China, Coca-Cola Foundation Support Flood Relief Efforts in Henan

Coca-Cola China System activates its "Clean Water 24" mechanism for emergency relief. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Global beverage giant Coca-Cola China and the Coca-Cola Foundation have delivered more than 1 million bottles of drinking water to people in need in central China's Henan province with a donation of $500,000 for the purchase of much-need relief supplies and support in the post-disaster relief efforts.

Many places in the province were recently hit hard by torrential rainstorms and floods, which battered the region and affected millions. To support the emergency relief efforts in the affected areas, Coca-Cola China, along with its bottling partner Swire Coca-Cola, quickly activated its "Clean Water 24" Emergency Drinking Water Supply Mechanism to deliver bottled drinking water to those in need.

Shortly following the Level-I emergency response activation issued by the Zhengzhou Command Center for Floods Control and Drought Relief, the first batch of bottled drinking water was successfully delivered to the affected areas.

As of July 28, Coca-Cola China System has delivered 1,009,112 bottles of drinking water and beverages through the initiative, in partnership with the government's emergency response lines and the One Foundation.

Meanwhile, a mobile water purification truck jointly developed by the company and the One Foundation arrived in Shilin Town, Hebi, Henan province, providing people in need of clean drinking water.

Coca-Cola China's employees in Zhengzhou were also hit by the nonstop rainstorms as Swire Coca-Cola Zhengzhou plant was also seriously flooded. On that day, 403 employees were trapped in the plant due to the flood, and spent the night providing help and comfort to each other.

Immediately after transportation was restored, those employees joined in the "Clean Water 24" initiative, and delivered the first batch of drinking water to the frontlines on the evening of July 21st. At present, a team of 52 volunteers in the plant in Zhengzhou have followed up on the delivery of supplies. Since July 26, Swire Coca-Cola Zhengzhou plant has gradually resumed operations to ensure the follow-up emergency relief and stable market supply.

The Coca-Cola Foundation, located in Atlanta, United States, has responded rapidly with a donation of $500,000 to the One Foundation for the purchase of much-needed relief supplies including tents, sleeping bags, rescue equipment, food, and other supplies, for support in the post-disaster relief efforts such as disinfection and other health and safety related items.

Meanwhile, Swire Coca-Cola Beverages Zhengzhou Ltd also donated 5 million yuan to the Zhengzhou Charity Federation for disaster relief and post-disaster reconstruction.

Since the initial response to the Sichuan Ya'an earthquake in 2013, by June 2021, the "Clean Water 24" mechanism has responded to 229 disasters and other emergencies in China, including the fight against COVID-19 in 2020.

Through this initiative, more than 18.97 million bottles of drinking water have been delivered to 2.24 million people affected by disasters, with an average delivery time of 11 hours.