Migrant crisis: Apple CEO Tim Cook pledges help for fleeing Syrians

Apple has joined Google, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase and SAP to provide help to the thousands of refugees fleeing Syria and other Middle Eastern countries. CEO Tim Cook, in an email sent to Apple employees, said: "Our hearts go out to these refugees, and many of you have asked how we can help."

In the mail, which has been published by The Telegraph, Cook said: "...millions of people from Syria and other Middle Eastern countries have fled their homes because of war and persecution. Europe, where many hope to find safety, is experiencing a refugee crisis on a scale that hasn't been seen since World War II. Thousands of people have already lost their lives as families embark on long and dangerous journeys across land and sea."

Cook said Apple was making a substantial donation to relief agencies which provide humanitarian aid to refugees in Europe and around the Mediterranean. He added that the company was also making it easy for its customers to support this effort by donating to the Red Cross via the App Store and iTunes.

"For employees who donate to the Red Cross campaign and other select relief efforts, Apple will match your contribution 2-for-1. For details, please visit the Apple Matching Gifts program page," he wrote.

On 16 September, Google said it would provide funds to non-profit organisations such as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children and the International Rescue Committee in support of the refugees.

The California-based company announced on its official blog that it had pledged to match individual donations to raise as much as $11m (£7.9m, €9.7m). The tech giant has already donated $1m for refugees from war-torn countries including Syria, Yemen, Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan. It is also matching donations to the tune of $5.5m, confirmed Rita Masoud, product marketing manager for Google.org.