Emergency aid programmes were launched to help survivors immediately after the severe earthquake on the Indonesian island of Java on 27 May 2006. The earthquake cost the lives of at least 3,500, according to official figures, and some 10,000 were injured. 200,000 people lost their homes. Particularly hard-hit – aside from the large city of Yogyakarta – was the Bantul region.

The Deutsche Bank Asia Foundation committed EUR 50,000 for initial aid programmes; Deutsche Bank supported aid measures with a further EUR 250,000. Chief Country Officer Suresh Narang and the CSR Indonesia Committee he appointed selected and accompanied the individual projects, just as they did following the tsunami disaster.

The earthquake that shook Pakistan in October 2005 destroyed more than 400,000 buildings, leaving 3.5 million people homeless. The number of fatalities surpassed 80,000, with again as many injuries. After rendering emergency aid, such as helping to set up sheltered tent camps for the winter, the Deutsche Bank Foundation directed its attention towards education projects and investments in infrastructure with a sustained impact.

As is its usual practice, the Foundation co-operated with local organisations in Pakistan. It promoted the construction of earthquake-proof buildings throughout the country, for example, to provide long-term accommodation for survivors. The Citizens Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that has been working on improving educational opportunities in Pakistan since 1995, by founding TCF schools throughout the country, also supported the construction of housing. One of the goals here was to include locals in the reconstruction efforts and involve them directly. The Deutsche Bank Foundation supported the establishment of a TCF elementary school and the construction of 24 buildings.

Deutsche Bank earmarked a total of EUR 1.2 million for earthquake victims in Pakistan, EUR 600,000 of which has already been awarded. This sum includes a EUR 50,000 donation to the Red Cross by the Deutsche Bank Asia Foundation, as well as some EUR 50,000 provided through a matched-giving programme by Deutsche Bank in the US and UK, in which Deutsche Bank matched staff donations pound for pound. EUR 250,000 each were donated to the renowned aid organisations Malteser International and Johanniter International.

Hurricane Katrina caused tremendous damage to the Southeast United States in August 2005. The storm and its aftermath resulted in some 1,800 deaths. The City of New Orleans was particularly hard-hit: As a result of its particular geography, two breaks in the city's protective levy system resulted in up to 80 percent of New Orleans' surface area being submerged under up to 25 feet of water.

The North American Equity Department at Deutsche Bank donated all of its commissions from 7 September 2005 to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Together with donations by Deutsche Bank staff, a total of USD 1,000,000 was raised.

Just a day after the seaquake, the Deutsche Bank Foundation had already received numerous donations. In addition, the Deutsche Bank Group donated EUR 10 million on the occasion of a televised charity telethon in Germany. Together with donations from staff and customers, a total of EUR 14.5 million in donations was received. Following the initial emergency aid phase, these funds were committed primarily to long-term education and reconstruction projects.

The Deutsche Bank Asia Foundation, which was established in December 2003, was already able to provide emergency relief to the victims of the 2004 flood catastrophe in Bangladesh.

The former Deutsche Bank Alfred Herrhausen Fund “Helping People to Help Themselves” provided emergency funding and expertise to the victims of flooding in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic in August 2002. Charitable assistance was provided for nearly 500 individual cases by early 2003, including more than 50 hospitals, schools and kindergartens. Deutsche Bank made a donation to this effect, as well as for scientific and cultural purposes in the affected areas; many individual donations from customers and staff were also forwarded.

As an expression of solidarity with the people of the United States after 11 September, we donated the proceeds of an entire “Charity Trading Day” (25 September 2001). When Deutsche Bank shares debuted on the New York Stock Exchange on 3 October 2001, we made an additional donation for the victims of the terrorist attacks of 11 September.

Flooding along the Oder and March rivers caused massive damage in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic in the summer of 1997, taking a tremendous toll. Damage was particularly severe in the Czech Republic and Poland, where countless people lost their homes and livelihoods. Residents of Western Germany followed the news of the flood disaster with great sympathy; many institutions, organisations and individuals rushed to help the victims quickly and non-bureaucratically. The Deutsche Bank Foundation, with the support of numerous benefactors, donated some DM 2.5 million to reconstruction efforts. In addition to aid programmes for families, several educational facilities were also supported, including a youth centre in Frankfurt/Oder which the youths themselves helped to restore.