COVID-19 relief efforts

In a coordinated global approach, Swiss Re Group has given the Swiss Re Foundation an extra CHF 5 million to fund relief efforts.

COVID-19 is touching each and every one of us wherever we live. It has already spread to countless countries and communities, a trend likely to continue over the coming weeks and months. The impact on health systems, economies and livelihoods is proving severe.

In response to this unprecedented global health crisis, the Swiss Re Foundation is committed to support its regional and global partners using an additional CHF 5 million donated by the Swiss Re Group. The Foundation will do this by making grants to the COVID-19 response of global leaders and its trusted partners. The Foundation will allocate:

• CHF 1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for the humanitarian relief they provide in emerging and developing countries and

• CHF 1 million to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)/Doctors Without Borders for the support they provide in most of the countries where Swiss Re has locations.

The remaining CHF 3 million will be allocated to the Foundation's existing partners across the globe. The relief efforts will be balanced in terms of geography and socioeconomic needs of the Foundation's partners. We're now in contact with our local and global partners to assess the business impact of the COVID-19 crisis. There's no question that we'll support our partners during this financially stressful period of business interruption.

Christian Mumenthaler, Swiss Re Group Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of the Swiss Re Foundation, said: “The rapid spread of COVID-19 affects all of us and shows how vulnerable we are as a society. As health systems are struggling in their response to the crisis, our contribution is meant to support those who are fighting on the front lines. The Swiss Re Foundation has well established ties to relief organisations that operate on both a global and a local level, so we are confident the funds will quickly help to provide support where it is needed the most.“