Panasonic Donates Solar Lanterns to UNDP for Ebola Relief Efforts

With the severe and far-reaching impact of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, governments and international organizations need more support for their relief efforts. They have called on the private sector to help the affected populations meet their basic needs in the midst of the crisis.

In response, Panasonic donated 240 solar lanterns to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in December 2014. Solar lanterns are now providing light to Ebola survivors, orphans, medical teams and workers fighting the epidemic in the affected areas of Liberia, where the outbreak is especially serious.

On February 19, Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Crisis Response Unit at UNDP, visited Satoshi Takeyasu, Panasonic Corporation Executive Officer in charge of Groupwide Brand Communications Division.

Ms. Nakamitsu, who leads UNDP's response to crisis, expressed gratitude for the solar lanterns donation.

"The solar lanterns are helpful to improve the lives of survivors and orphans affected by Ebola and to support workers in the frontlines of disease control. The solar lanterns not only shed light on the lives of these people, they can also help the fight against Ebola by enabling wire transfer via cell phones thanks to the solar lanterns' charger functions. We appreciate your support for our emergency relief and early recovery efforts."

Our solar lanterns are provided to Ebola survivors who have almost nothing when they are discharged from treatment clinics, since their belongings are incinerated when they test positive and are admitted for treatment. Solar lanterns have also been distributed to people living in quarantined areas, where access to electricity is often limited. In the capital Monrovia, solar lanterns are supporting medical teams while they work at nighttime.

The response to the Ebola crisis still needs much support. Panasonic will continue to contribute to relief efforts in countries that have been hit especially hard by the epidemic.