Rio donates A$1m to Australian Red Cross for bushfire relief and recovery

Firefighter in Melbourne, adobe stock.

Rio Tinto has donated a further A$750,000 to the Red Cross' disaster relief and recovery efforts supporting people affected by Australia's bushfire crisis, bringing the company's total donation to A$1 million.

The funds will be used to help Red Cross emergencyservice teams provide support to impacted communities including safe places to take shelter, psychologicalfirst aid to reduce trauma, information and practical assistance through thetime it can take to recover, and longer-term recovery programmes in affectedcommunities.

Since November 2019, hundreds of Red Crossemergency personnel - mostly volunteers - have manned relief and evacuationcentres in bushfire impacted communities around the country.

Rio Tinto is also providing employees involved incurrent volunteer firefighting efforts with full leave entitlements.

"With the escalation in the bushfire crisis...we are also ensuring any of our employees involved in firefighting and relief efforts are supported throughout this period with full leave entitlements," said Rio Tinto's CEO Jean-S?(C)bastien Jacques in a media release. "Beyond these steps announced today, we will continue to explore ways to help impacted communities in this time of need."