On December 26, 2004, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island causing a tsunami that left a path of destruction across much of south Asia, India and the western coast of Africa.

An international disaster relief effort went underway to respond to immediate needs for food, clothing, housing and fresh water, to contain the possibility of an outbreak of wide-spread disease and illness, and determine what would be needed in the long-term to help those devastated by the disaster.

Merck has a long history of helping to support disaster relief efforts both in the US and around the world, and is involved both at the corporate level and regional level in efforts to respond to a crisis.

As part of Merck’s response to the tsunami disaster relief efforts, The Merck Disaster Relief Matching Funds Program was activated from January 7 to February 28, 2005 to support Merck employees in their efforts to provide humanitarian aid by providing matching funds to employee donations worth US$543,159 supports  3 identified agencies and their local subsidiaries: American Red Cross - International Response Fund - South Asia Disaster, Save The Children Federation - Asian Earthquake / Tsunami Relief Fund and US Fund for UNICEF - South Asia Relief Efforts. 

At the local level, MSD Malaysia employees rallied together by raising funds towards UNICEF Malaysia.  In addition to this effort, MSD Malaysia supported The Star Earthquake /Tsunami Relief Fund by donating RM100, 000, donated products for theNational Crisis and Disaster Division for a Humanitarian Relief Mission to Aceh and also a range of medical supplies towards the Kiwanis Club of Kuala Lumpur for their relief efforts in Aceh and Sri Lanka. 

Said Ewe Kheng Huat, Managing Director, Merck Sharp & Dohme Malaysia, “At a time of loss of livelihood, families and homes, we just wanted to help those affected by the tsunami so that they may start rebuilding their lives.”

In total, Merck and its employees donated US$3 million cash to relief agencies following the disaster and shipped more than US$7.4 million worth of medicines to help those in need.