By David Reed, UT EditorLudwigshafem, Germany-The board of executive directors of BASF AG has agreed to provide €1 million ($1.3 million) in immediate aid to victims of the tsunami disaster in Asia. The major global chemical concern says employees throughout the BASF Group worldwide will also be given the chance to make donations to help the victims of the catastrophe, and that it will match the amount donated by its employees through 31 Jan 2005.BASF and its employees worldwide have been deeply shocked by the consequences of the devastating tsunami in countries bordering the Indian Ocean, a 30 Dec 2004 statement said. The company and its workforce therefore want to help support the victims in their distress and enable the reconstruction of the devastated areas."The damage resulting from this once-in-a-century disaster is unimaginable. It is our utmost concern to help the people in need. Therefore, we call on all our workers to make a donation," said BASF chairman Jürgen Hambrecht, in a joint letter from the board of executive directors, the works council and the committee of executive representatives, the prepared statement said.The exact use of the donations will be decided together with local companies and aid organisations.BASF has sites in the affected countries, but none directly in the affected areas, the statement continued, adding that BASF companies in the region have already made initial donations to help the victims. BASF Asia Pacific's incident-management procedures were triggered immediately after the disaster to verify the safety of employees of all companies and sites in countries damaged by the tsunami."
