Mercedes-Benz helps in areas where the exceptional situation prevails with targeted support. Because disaster relief is a question of attitude for us. We maintain a network of long-term partnerships with major international organizations or donate to regional organizations as needed to respond directly to crises and provide targeted support on the ground.
In addition to monetary donations and the provision of Mercedes-Benz vehicles for the transport of relief supplies or for evacuation, we have also organized campaigns for employees – this has enabled us to make a targeted contribution to disaster relief in the past.
Example: Help for the people of Ukraine
Since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Mercedes-Benz has been supporting people in and from Ukraine. In total, donations made and pledged in cash and in kind for Ukraine aid amount to around 13 million euros. At the beginning of the war, for example, Mercedes-Benz donated one million euros to the German Red Cross (DRK) to support emergency humanitarian aid on the ground. In addition, there was a donation of two million euros in 2022/23 and now another six million euros to "SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit" for the "Rebuilding Hope" project. In addition to these monetary donations, the company presented 64 vehicles worth more than 3.7 million euros to the "DRK", "Caritas" and "SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit".
Numerous national and Group member companies around the world have also made donations and shown their solidarity with the people in and from Ukraine: The aid ranges from in-kind and food donations to support in the transportation of refugees and the provision of supplies.
Example: Humanitarian aid in the Middle East
In October 2023, Mercedes-Benz donated one million euros in total to the aid organisations German Red Cross as well as United Hatzalah to make a contribution to alleviate the suffering of civilians in Israel and Gaza. In November, the company expanded its contribution to humanitarian aid on the ground with an additional donation in the amount of one million euros to the German Red Cross. The German Red Cross, in cooperation with its sister organizations the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS) and the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERCS), is organizing humanitarian aid for civilians. United Hatzalah as well as the Red Cross are both reputable organizations with a long standing record of helping people in need.
Example: Support for people in need in the earthquake zone
Following this year's severe earthquake in southeastern Turkey and in Syria, Mercedes-Benz was able to help people in need as a result of the disaster with a donation of one million euros to the German Red Cross (DRK). With a fundraising campaign by our employees and a dedicated website of the DRK, almost 100,000 euros have been raised. The company doubled the amount to a total of 200,000 euros. In addition to emergency aid, the DRK will continue to be involved in the regions in the future.
This article was last updated in April 2024.
