Swiss Solidarity distributes CHF45.5 million
The charity Swiss Solidarity distributed some CHF45.5 million ($46.5 million) to 148 projects both in Switzerland and abroad in 2016, it announced in its annual report.
The Swiss public dipped into their pockets to help ease the plight of refugees and in response a range of catastrophes, including earthquakes or storms in Nepal, the Philippines and Haiti. Most of the funds (CHF42.1 million) went abroad, also to support victims of droughts in east Africa.
Of the CHF3.3 million that went to domestic projects, most was used to help children in emergency situations or families affected by severe weather conditions.
This year, Swiss Solidarity said it would change its strategy to bring it closer to the recipients of donations and to donors and partner institutions.
Swiss SolidarityExternal link is the fundraising arm of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, the parent company of swissinfo.ch. Set up in 1946, Swiss Solidarity has collected more than CHF1.7 billion in donations in various campaigns for victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts over the world.
The foundation received a human rights award in recognition of its work in 1999.
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