Aerial view of houses being flooded in Dongyun Village of Liqiao Town on July 7, 2016 in Xuancheng, Anhui Province of China. (Photo : Getty Images/ VCG/VCG )
Apple Inc. has donated $1 million to help millions in China overcome the distresses caused by the heavy flooding, following torrential rains in the Yangtze River region. The Cupertino tech titan sent its donation to a non-governmental agency called China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA).
Apple is the first U.S. to donate to the CFPA towards flood relief in the country, the NGO stated on its website. The group informed that it received 7 million Yuan (roughly $1 million) from Apple on Monday and has assured to work closely with Apple to ensure that the money is best utilized.
Meanwhile, Apple CEO Tim Cook has expressed his support for the flood-affected people in China. He wrote on the Chinese social media site Weibo, "Our thoughts are with all those devastated by the flooding along the Yangtze River."
Since the end of June, heavy rain falls and floods have besieged South China. Data released by the country's Ministry of Civil Affairs on Friday revealed that the natural calamity had affected 31 million people in more than 500 cities and towns across China. While 164 people killed have been killed and 26 are missing.
More than 73,000 buildings have collapsed and nearly 2 million people have been shifted to safer grounds. According to the ministry, still over a million people are in need of emergency assistance.
The humanitarian aid from Apple to its second-largest market globally comes at a hard time for the company. The revenue of the company during the quarter ended March 26, dropped by 22.5%. Moreover, Apple suffered a slide of 12.8 percent with a total of $50.56 billion, which saw the Cupertino tech giant's quarterly revenue decline for the first time since 2003, USA Today reported.
Nevertheless, Apple has also assisted China during times of crisis in the past. In recent times, the company contributed financial aid worth $1.6 million to assist responders following a devastating earthquake in China's Yunnan province in 2014. Before that Apple donated $8 million for earthquake relief in Sichuan province in 2013.
Aside from its corporate philanthropy, Apple regularly utilizes iTunes to help its customers donate for emergency efforts funded by the Red Cross. The company also promotes several other social issues and events such as the World AIDS Day by donating a portion of App Store and retail sales.
Watch South China besieged by devastating floods below:
