Mercy Corps and ITT Champion Fresh Approaches to Water-Related Disaster Risk Reduction

Funding by ITT Watermark® supports six new programs underway in Colombia, China, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nepal and Tajikistan

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The global humanitarian agency Mercy Corps and ITT Corporation (NYSE:ITT) today announced the next stage of their multi-year partnership: risk reduction programs in six developing countries where people are particularly vulnerable to water-related disasters. The leaders of this initiative will convene at World Water Week, an annual gathering that takes place August 21-27 in Stockholm, Sweden.

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On Sunday, August 21, Mercy Corps and ITT will host a panel at the Stockholm Exhibition and Congress Center titled, "Water and Disaster: Innovative Collaborations Can Mitigate Risk." Speakers will include:

• Jim Jarvie, Ph.D., Director of Climate Change, Environment and Natural Resource Management, Mercy Corps
• Michael Fields, Director of Philanthropy, ITT
• Anne Castleton, Ph.D., Director of Disaster Risk Reduction, Mercy Corps
• Sue Yardley, Senior Policy Advisor, Tearfund

On Tuesday, August 23, project managers for the six water-related risk reduction programs - funded through ITT Watermark®, ITT's global corporate citizenship program - will take part in a project launch workshop to discuss innovations in the field and their individual activities. A summary of key findings will be prepared for public release. The programs, currently underway in Colombia, China, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nepal and Tajikistan, will be completed by December 2012 and are expected to benefit approximately 500,000 people.

"The greatest number of lives can be saved by addressing water-related risks before a disaster occurs," said Michael Fields, Director of Philanthropy for ITT. "We desperately need new solutions, and the challenge to private companies and nonprofits globally is to find new ways of working together to help vulnerable communities prepare before disaster strikes."

According to the UN, water-related disasters account for 90 percent of all natural disasters (as compared to earthquakes, landslides or other natural disasters) with the poorest people and countries disproportionately affected. Water-related disaster risk reduction is, therefore, critical to sustainable development.  

"Our work with ITT enables us to incorporate best practices in water-related disaster risk reduction in our development efforts, as well as to catalyze new approaches that are sustainable, scalable and replicable," said Neal Keny-Guyer, Mercy Corps' CEO. "We're grateful to have such generous corporate partners who share our desire to help the most vulnerable populations weather the effects of disaster."

World Water Week is the annual meeting place to discuss the planet's most urgent water related issues. Organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute, it brings together 2,500 experts, practitioners, decision makers and business innovators from around the globe to exchange ideas, foster new thinking and develop solutions. www.worldwaterweek.org

About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps helps people turn the crises they confront into the opportunities they deserve. Driven by local needs, our programs provide communities in the world's toughest places with the tools and support they need to transform their own lives. Our worldwide team in 41 countries is improving the lives of 19 million people. For more information, see mercycorps.org.

About ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation is a high-technology engineering and manufacturing company operating on all seven continents in three vital markets: water and fluids management, global defense and security, and motion and flow control. With a heritage of innovation, ITT partners with its customers to deliver extraordinary solutions that create more livable environments, provide protection and safety and connect our world. Headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., the company generated 2010 revenue of $11 billion. www.itt.com

On 12 January 2011, ITT announced its intention to spin off its Water and Defense businesses into separate publicly traded companies prior to the end of this year. The new water company, to be called Xylem, will be a global leading provider of products and technologies for water and wastewater; residential and commercial water; analytical instrumentation and flow control, doing business in more than 150 countries with annual revenues of $3.6 billion.

SOURCE Mercy Corps