The community of El Paso, Texas, is one such place, where people enter the United States from Mexico, seeking asylum and opportunity. It’s also a place where human need is high, with food, shelter, and health services in demand among those in the community and recent arrivals.

Stepping into that gap is the Health Outreach Prevention and Education, or HOPE+, a collaborative program, run by The University of Texas, El Paso, College of Health Sciences, Department of Social Work and College of Nursing. The program includes 85 organizations that provide a variety of services, including healthcare, food, housing referrals for people who are unhoused, access to public health department programs, community health workers support for navigating services, and more. The organization also hosts health fairs to connect vulnerable populations to vital care while addressing health disparities in El Paso County.

In 2024, the program reached over 1,600 people, offering on-site services and referrals to safety-net services that can improve their health. The program also involves university students training in health fields so they can gain experience with patients.

“We’re adding a dimension of humility and exposure so that the next generation of professionals are better equipped to refer to the individual who is marginalized as an individual who is worthy of dignity and respect,” said Moya.

A $200,000 grant from Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity, made possible with support from the AbbVie Foundation, allowed the University of Texas at El Paso School of Social Work to expand the HOPE health fairs to unsheltered and uninsured people across El Paso and beyond.

Since 2021, Direct Relief, through its Fund for Health Equity, has granted more than $50 million to 163 organizations across the U.S.

This video was directed, produced, and edited by Oliver Riley-Smith Cinematography.

The post Health and Hope at the U.S.-Mexico Border appeared first on Direct Relief.

Medications and supplies shipped this week included rare disease therapies, cancer therapies, insulin, and more.

MPOX Response Continues in Congo

As mpox cases continue to climb in Africa, educational efforts to curb the disease are taking place in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Direct Relief recently awarded a grant of $50,000 to the nonprofit Jericho Road for mpox response, and prevention and treatment programs that are taking place in the three IDP (internally displaced people) camps near their facility in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or DRC.

The Jericho Road Wellness Center is based in Goma, DRC, near three large IDP camps in North Kivu, and the spread of mpox in these camps was noted as an area of concern by Africa CDC. The province of North Kivu is home to over 2.5 million internally displaced people, and conflict and insecurity throughout the region have caused the additional displacement of over 500,000 people in North Kivu over the last year, which has played a factor in the recent mpox outbreak.

Jericho Road held mpox awareness and preventative health training sessions for community facilitators from camps where thousands of displaced people are living. The trainings covered hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, transmission of contagious diseases, and more. The facilitators will be training those in their communities about infection control and protection and prevention.

Direct Relief has worked with Jericho Road during previous outbreaks, including during the 2019 Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC. Direct Relief and Jericho Road worked to deliver PPE to the North Kivu provincial Department of Health, and the organizations are exploring the same approach as North Kivu is experiencing some of the highest rates of mpox in Africa.

Cancer Therapies Arrive in Gaza

Cancer therapies and essential medicines arrived recently at the Cancer Center at European Gaza Hospital to support treatment of people living with cancer.

The cancer center is a vital lifeline to care for those needing care, and seven pallets of requested medications were purchased locally by Anera in the West Bank, with $250,000 in financial support from Direct Relief. The local purchase of the medications allowed for the treatments to be swiftly delivered to the hospital.

Operational Snapshot

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 586 shipments containing 2 million doses of medication during the past month to organizations, including the following:

Around the World

Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 1 million defined daily doses of medication totaling 13,673 lbs., to countries including the following:

YEAR TO DATE

Since January 1, 2024, Direct Relief has delivered 24.2K shipments to 2,419 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 89 countries. These shipments contained 396.6M defined daily doses of medication valued at $1.6B (wholesale) and totaled 5.0M lbs.

in the news

Reflecting on 24 Years of Crisis Care at Direct Relief – Santa Barbara Independent

Celebrating the Relief Chief – The Montecito Journal

Direct Relief Secures Spot as the Fifth Largest U.S. Charity, Forbes Reports – Edhat

The post Medical Aid Reaches 16 Countries, 45 U.S. States appeared first on Direct Relief.

“In the United States, while 93% of Teva’s inhaler medicines are generic products with access at lower prices – particularly for insured patients – there still remain uninsured patients who cannot access affordable generic inhalers,” said Chris Fox, Executive Vice President, U.S. Commercial at Teva. “The aim of this program is to help address an unmet need in underserved communities nationwide, enhancing patient access to safe and affordable medicines delivered via inhalers, including both maintenance and rescue inhalers.”

Teva will make two inhaler products available through this program: generic versions of the AirDuo®RespiClick® (fluticasone propionate/salmeterol xinafoate maintenance inhaler) and ProAir® HFA (albuterol sulfate rescue inhaler). Teva will donate the inhalers to Direct Relief for distribution by request to free & charitable clinics, to then be dispensed to uninsured patients served by these clinics.

“Direct Relief is deeply grateful to Teva for this critical donation which will connect patients with respiratory treatments they otherwise would not have access to,” said Katie Lewis, Regional Director, U.S. Programs for Direct Relief. “Free and charitable clinics offer quality care for underserved communities, and this donation will allow them to reach even more patients with these medications.”

The program will continue for a minimum of three years to ensure reliable and continuous supply to these patients. In addition to donating the inhalers, Teva will make a cash donation to Direct Relief to cover the costs of administering this program.

Direct Relief, Teva’s long-time partner on access to medicines programs in the U.S. and around the world, is a nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides medical resources to resource-poor communities. It operates the largest charitable medicine program in the United States. Through its network, Direct Relief supports the dispensing of high-quality, no-cost medicines to low-income, uninsured patients at the point of care, thereby facilitating patient access to necessary medicines.

The post Teva Announces New Patient Access Program with Direct Relief to Provide Access to Inhalers for Uninsured Patients appeared first on Direct Relief.

Included in medications shipped this week were rare disease therapies, vitamins, personal protective equipment, insulin, and more.

Direct Relief CEO Awarded Highest Civilian Honor in Ukraine

In Kyiv earlier this week, Direct Relief CEO Thomas Tighe received the Honorary Diploma of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Ukrainian parliament’s highest civilian honor that is bestowed for exceptional contributions to Ukraine’s democratic development, civil harmony, and legislative progress. A 40-minute feature interview with Tighe regarding the award will air nationally across Ukraine.

Since 2022, Direct Relief has provided over $1.3 billion in medicines, medical supplies, and financial grants to support nonprofits serving the Ukrainian people.

During the visit to Ukraine and the surrounding region, Direct Relief representatives toured critical healthcare facilities of grantees, including the new Protez Foundation prosthetic clinic and the recently upgraded UNBROKEN facility. The renovations at UNBROKEN include a state-of-the-art prosthetics center, a training center, an eight-story residential housing unit, and significant enhancements to a 500-bed hospital.

According to UNBROKEN officials, the facility now handles an average of 250 emergency patients daily—a number that has doubled since the war began.

Direct Relief Ranked as a Top U.S. Disaster Response Nonprofit by Forbes

Direct Relief was profiled in a Forbes feature this week, which referred to the organization as, “one of the most respected and older organizations in the disaster relief business.”

From the article: Direct Relief may pump more aid into disaster relief in the U.S. and abroad than any other charity on the new Forbes list, depending on who’s counting and how. In the year ended June 30, 2024, it received $2.4 billion in medical supply and cash donations and reckons it used $775 million of that to aid victims of, among other tragedies, the Maui, Hawaii forest fires, the earthquake along the Syria/Turkey border, wars in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, and hurricanes and floods in the U.S. and abroad. The rest went to providing non-disaster medical supply aid to ongoing projects in 50 countries on five continents.

The article goes on to profile how Direct Relief leverages existing relationships and pre-positioned aid shipments to respond quickly and effectively in the wake of disasters. Forbes also details the organization’s focus on the video gaming community as a source of support.

Forbes ranked Direct Relief as number five on its annual Top 100 Charities list.

Operational Snapshot

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 592 shipments containing 1.8 million doses of medication during the past month to organizations, including the following:

Around the World

Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 12.7 million defined daily doses of medication totaling 55,869 lbs., to countries including the following:

YEAR TO DATE

Since January 1, 2024, Direct Relief has delivered 23,700 shipments to 2,406 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 89 countries. These shipments contained 393.6 million defined daily doses of medication valued at $1.6B (wholesale) and totaled 5 million lbs.

in the news

• When Disaster Strikes, These Top Charities Actually Deliver – Forbes
• Nonprofit Director and Future PA Delivers Critical Care During Natural Disaster – AAPA
• Teva Announces New Patient Access Program with Direct Relief to Provide Access to Inhalers for Uninsured Patients
• Direct Relief ranked No. 5 largest U.S. charity | Pacific Coast Business Times
• Direct Relief Ranked No. 5 Largest U.S. Charity

The post Direct Relief Earns Top Ukrainian Civilian Medal, Top Ranking from Forbes appeared first on Direct Relief.

The earthquake’s epicenter was located in the Pacific Ocean, about 50 miles southwest of Eureka, California. Damage was still being evaluated across the northern part of the state, with power outages reported in some areas, including Humboldt County, where more than 10,000 customers were without power as of noon on Thursday, according to Poweroutage.us.

An initial tsunami warning for a portion of the state’s coastline was canceled shortly after it was issued.

Direct Relief is coordinating with state and regional agencies regarding any medical needs that may arise. The organization is in contact with the California Office of Emergency Services, as well as emergency responders in Humboldt County, and search and rescue crews in the region.

Direct Relief will continue to respond as needs become known.

The post Earthquake Reverberates Through Northern California appeared first on Direct Relief.

In its 76 years, Direct Relief has become a leading provider of humanitarian medical assistance globally, and the largest supplier of charitable medicines in the U.S. Healthcare providers in medically underserved communities rely on Direct Relief to deliver requested medicines rapidly during emergencies and throughout the year to care for those most in need. This report provides an overview of how and where Direct Relief has leveraged support from generous individuals, companies, and foundations to improve the health and lives of millions of people in 2024.

A PDF version of this report can be found here.

2024 AID TRACKER
Unaudited totals through November 1, 2024

• $1,401,106,147 in medical assistance
• $68,373,645 in financial assistance
• 340,028,119 Defined Daily Doses of medicine
• 4,384,844 pounds of medicine and supplies
• 20,802 deliveries
• 2,283 healthcare providers supported
• 89 countries

Thank you for being part of Direct Relief.

Responding to the Health Impacts of Climate Change

Climate change has profound effects on public health in vulnerable communities. Poverty and poor health reinforce each other, and natural disasters increase the effect. People who live with economic hardship, inadequate housing, or limited healthcare access are hit hardest as they have fewer resources to recover and adapt.

Disaster Preparedness and Response

Each year, Direct Relief pre-positions hurricane preparedness packs with essential medications and supplies with community health providers in secure locations near vulnerable areas. Priority is given to safety-net clinics that support low-income and displaced individuals. In 2024, Direct Relief pre-positioned 30 packs with health facilities in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.

Responding to Hurricanes Helene and Milton

Direct Relief mobilized quickly, providing $700,000 in financial assistance and delivering 175 shipments of requested medicines and supplies valued at over $74 million (wholesale) to more than 90 healthcare providers in Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Shipments included emergency medical backpacks, respiratory relief, antibiotics, chronic disease medicines, vaccines, personal protective equipment, and water purification tablets.

Building Resilience

Severe weather and climate-related power outages threaten access to essential health services, putting vulnerable populations at risk. In 2024, Direct Relief expanded its support for off-grid, renewable power systems at community health clinics, ensuring uninterrupted care and protecting cold chain infrastructure for the safe storage and distribution of vital medications like vaccines and insulin.

Delivering Aid in Hard-to-Reach Places

People living in remote areas, with poor infrastructure, or affected by violent conflict often face a disproportionate burden of disease. Reaching these communities is crucial, as conflict and lack of infrastructure reinforce the preexisting burden of disease. In 2024, Direct Relief delivered critical resources to these vulnerable areas, improving health equity and ensuring lifesaving support reached those most in need.

Exceeding $1 Billion in Medical Support to Ukraine

Direct Relief’s response to the war in Ukraine is the largest effort in the organization’s history. This year, Direct Relief provided $42 million in financial assistance, and delivered 138 shipments of medical supplies, bringing the total to 2,480 tons, valued at $1.4 billion (wholesale). Continuing efforts focus on rehabilitation, mental health, mobile and emergency care, and resilient power for health services.

Bolstering Health Care in Papua New Guinea

After a series of natural disasters in Papua New Guinea this year, Direct Relief delivered emergency medical backpacks, an emergency health kit, and a range of other requested medicines and supplies to community health providers.

Delivering Insulin to Haiti

Haiti has a high prevalence of diabetes, yet poverty and civil disorder have made it difficult for Haitians to access life-saving insulin. Insulin must be kept within a specific temperature range to be safe, and poor cold-chain infrastructure makes deliveries to Haiti particularly difficult. In 2024, Direct Relief overcame these obstacles and successfully delivered two shipments of insulin.

Providing Medical Aid in the Middle East

In 2024, Direct Relief provided over $255 million (wholesale) in requested aid across Egypt, Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen. Nearly 179 tons of medical aid valued at $35.5 million was delivered to Gaza, including cancer treatments, diabetes supplies, cardiac medications, wound care, and water purification supplies.

Improving Cancer Care in Mongolia and Yemen

Mongolia has the world’s highest rate of cancer mortality per capita. In 2024, Direct Relief delivered its first-ever shipment to a healthcare provider there, providing cancer treatments aiming to improve survival rates. In Yemen, years of conflict, poverty, and damaged infrastructure have weakened the country’s health system. In 2024, Direct Relief delivered medication for breast cancer and gastric cancer in Yemen, where shortages are widespread.

The post 2024: The Year in Review appeared first on Direct Relief.

Community health centers provide access to critical healthcare services by reducing barriers such as cost, lack of insurance, distance, and language for the more than 32.5 million people they serve. The funds from Direct Relief will broadly support initiatives focused on the diversification of the healthcare workforce, elimination of health disparities, and support of technology and/or innovation. 

The announcement was made during the NACHC Partnership Conference in Seattle, Washington, on Nov. 19.

“Health centers are deeply committed to serving patients in culturally sensitive and community-specific ways,” said Thomas Tighe, Direct Relief President and CEO. “Dating from their establishment as an outgrowth of the U.S. civil rights movement, they have a long and rich history, which continues to this day, with innovative care that aims to reach all people. Direct Relief is privileged to support their work.”

“We are grateful for our longstanding partnership and collaboration with Direct Relief to support community health centers as they carry out their mission to advance health equity as the first and last responders to the nation’s emerging public health challenges – hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and a devastating Covid-19 pandemic,” said Kyu Rhee, MD, MPP, President and CEO of NACHC. “Direct Relief has been there every step of the way, providing essential medicines, medical supplies, and grants to ensure that health centers can continue their vital mission of care and support.”

In addition to this week’s funding announcement, Direct Relief has provided more than $870 million worth of medications to more than 1,000 community health centers since 2008. Direct Relief has also provided more than $114 million in funding to 600 community health centers. Those funds have supported health centers through disaster preparedness and response, chronic disease management, mental health, women’s health, health equity, and resilient power and infrastructure.

Direct Relief has also donated more than 95,000 deliveries of medicines, medical supplies, and over-the-counter items to free clinics and charitable pharmacies across the country, which utilize a volunteer/staff model to provide care to people who are experiencing vulnerabilities.

The post Direct Relief Commits $1 Million to the National Association of Community Health Centers, Supporting Care for Underserved People Across the U.S. appeared first on Direct Relief.

Medications and supplies shipped this week included prenatal vitamins, cancer treatment therapies, personal protective equipment, field medic packs for triage care, diabetes management medications, and more.

Critical Medications Equip Medical Responders Treating Patients with Cholera

Medications and supplies for the treatment of cholera recently arrived in Juba, South Sudan, where a cholera outbreak presents a threat, particularly for children.

South Sudan, formed in 2011, is the world’s newest country and faces multiple converging challenges, including ongoing domestic ethnic conflict, economic instability, and unprecedented flooding. These issues have been further exacerbated by the civil war in Sudan, which has led to an influx of over 684,000 Sudanese refugees flowing over the border into South Sudan.

A cholera outbreak was recently identified at a location where many people had fled from Sudan into South Sudan, and health authorities are working to contain the spread, which can be exacerbated in areas without access to clean water and sanitation services. Cholera can be particularly dangerous for children, who can become dehydrated rapidly from the disease.

Recently, a Direct Relief-donated cholera treatment kit was received in Juba by the International Organization for Migration South Sudan. The organization provides essential services such as shelter, healthcare, and sanitation in camps for people who have been displaced within the country. This includes camps in Bentiu, which host between 100,000 to 160,000 displaced people.

Direct Relief’s shipment included a wide variety of essential medications for IOM’s work in IDP camps throughout the country. With cholera cases on the rise in South Sudan and regionally, Direct Relief’s shipment of a cholera treatment kit, designed to treat up to 280 patients, as well as field medic packs for use by first responders in the IDP camps, arrives at a critical time for medical providers in South Sudan.

Direct Relief’s partnership with IOM in South Sudan will facilitate medical aid for patients at border crossings, IDP camps, and IDP centers, supporting care in high-need humanitarian settings.

Honduras Braces for Rain, Flooding as Tropical Storm Sara Barrels Through Region

Tropical Storm Sara was drenching Honduras with heavy rains on Friday, and authorities were warning residents of possible landslides and flash flooding.

Direct Relief has been in communication with local organizations and health facilities in Honduras and across the region this week as they prepared for the tropical storm. The organization has also been coordinating with the Pan American Health Organization on regional needs.

On Friday, a dengue treatment kit, which contains items for the prevention of the spread of the mosquito-borne illness, was staged for shipment to Honduras.

The kit is bound for Ruth Paz Hospital in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, a facility that offers care for people unable to pay for services. Dengue has claimed more than 100 lives this year in Honduras, according to the country’s ministry of health, and total cases were around 100,000 in August of this year. Flooding and standing water resulting from Tropical Storm Sara could create ideal conditions for more mosquito-borne diseases.

In response to increased cases of dengue fever across Latin America and the Caribbean, Direct Relief developed the dengue treatment kit, which contains mosquito repellant, repellant wipes, oral rehydration salts, acetaminophen for adults and for children, and thermometers. There is no cure for dengue fever, but the items in the kit aim for prevention of the disease and supportive care of a person experiencing the illness.

Earlier this year, Direct Relief shipped field medic packs, packed with items for triage care outside of clinic walls, as well as a hurricane preparedness pack to the Honduran Red Cross, located near Tegucigalpa, the country’s capital city. The hurricane preparedness packs, which are shipped each year in advance of Atlantic storm season, are pre-positioned in hurricane-prone areas and stocked with medicines and supplies commonly requested after large storms. Medications include first aid items, chronic disease medication, water purification supplies, and more to keep health facilities operational after a disaster.

Midwife Kits Arrive in Nigeria

Midwives supporting healthy births in Nigeria recently received tools and supplies to help mothers and babies. Direct Relief-donated midwife kits, which contain items to support up to 50 facility-based births, recently arrived at the St. Charles Hospital and Maternity Wing in Adoka, Nigeria.

The country has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, according to the World Health Organization. The U-VOL Foundation received the kits and will be distributing them to midwives at the facility.

Operational Snapshot

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 509 shipments containing 1.7M doses of medication during the past seven days to organizations, including the following:

Around the World

Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 5.3M defined daily doses of medication totaling 54,570 lbs., to countries including the following:

YEAR TO DATE

Since January 1, 2024, Direct Relief has delivered 21.8K shipments to 2,299 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 88 countries. These shipments contained 371.6M defined daily doses of medication valued at $1.5B (wholesale) and totaled 4.8M lbs.

In the News

Calmer winds help firefighters make progress against California’s Mountain Fire – NBC News

How victims of California’s Mountain Fire can find help — and how others can donate or volunteer – CBS News

Direct Relief responds with thousands of masks for those who are inhaling ash in Ventura County – KEYT

IMSS recibe donativo de 30 mochilas tácticas para atender emergencias – MSN

Twitch Streaming Isn’t Just For Gamers Anymore – Yahoo Entertainment

The post As Outbreak Rages, Cholera Treatment Kits Arrive in South Sudan appeared first on Direct Relief.

Medications and supplies shipped this week included personal protective equipment for those impacted by wildfire smoke, field medic packs for triage care, rare disease therapies, and more.

Direct Relief Responds Locally to California’s Mountain Fire

As the fast-moving Mountain Fire tears through large areas of Ventura County, it is destroying dozens of homes, filling the air with smoke and particulates, and forcing more than 10,000 people to evacuate. Direct Relief staff are on the ground in the county this week to distribute N95 respirators — more than 12,000 thus far — and other emergency support to residents and responding partners, including the Ventura County Office of Emergency Services.

At Direct Relief’s headquarters in Santa Barbara, about an hour north, staff have loaded additional respirators and supplies for transport to the Ventura Family YMCA, Camarillo Family YMCA, Ventura County Health Care Agency, and the Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project. Shipments of emergency medical packs, developed for field medics responding to disasters, personal care kits for displaced communities, and a wildfire kit are being prepared in Direct Relief’s medical warehouse for the Westminster Free Clinic and Planned Parenthood Central Coast, both local health providers.

To support disaster response and containment, Direct Relief provided funding to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, which is using a helicopter retrofitted for large water drops to fight the Mountain Fire from above.

Because Ventura County is an agricultural center, impacts on farmworkers laboring outdoors are a particular concern. Local agencies and groups, including the Ventura County Farm Bureau, have received respirators for distribution to agricultural workers.

Direct Relief staff members, distributing N95 respirators to county residents at the Ventura Family YMCA, heard concerns that protective masks have been difficult to find, and that people with respiratory health conditions are concerned about impacts from poor air quality.

The scale and speed of the Mountain Fire’s destruction indicate that additional medical support, from respiratory treatments like inhalers to chronic disease medications, is likely to be called for. Direct Relief will continue collaborating with partners to assess and respond to medical needs.

After Hurricanes Helene and Milton, A Long Road to Recovery

Despite large-scale recovery efforts, hurricane-affected communities across the southeastern U.S. still confront threats from contaminated water, widespread displacement, housing shortages compounded by many thousands of damaged structures, and financial hardship. Health impacts are widespread, as is the need for medical resilience and long-term care access.

As of November 7, Direct Relief had awarded $750,000 in emergency operating grants to 30 healthcare provider partners in Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee, enabling them to safeguard and expand health care access, including mobile clinic services and mental health care, to storm-impacted communities.

Direct Relief had also dispatched more than 180 shipments of specifically requested emergency medical aid valued at nearly $3.1 million to 35 healthcare providers responding to the needs of storm-affected communities in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Antibiotics, emergency medical backpacks, hygiene kits, over-the-counter products, personal protective equipment, and medications to manage chronic diseases were urgently requested and provided. Direct Relief also delivered epinephrine, oral rehydration salts, re-entry kits, water purification tablets, and vaccines for Covid-19, hepatitis A and B, influenza, and tetanus. Covid-19 vaccines, epinephrine, hepatitis A and B vaccines, influenza vaccines, naloxone, oral rehydration salts, re-entry kits, tetanus vaccines, and water purification tablets to responding organizations.

Cumulatively, the organization prepositioned 30 Hurricane Preparedness Packs with safety net providers in states affected by the hurricanes ahead of the 2024 Atlantic storm season. At least three health facilities in Florida and Georgia opened their prepositioned packs in response to the hurricane.

In addition, Direct Relief has committed more than $4.8 million for the design, installation, and maintenance of clean, resilient power systems at 11 community health centers in Florida and North Carolina through its Power for Health Initiative. Installation was recently completed at two facilities within eastern North Carolina’s Goshen Medical Center network, one of which would have lost power following Hurricane Helene but for its newly installed system. In 2025, Direct Relief plans to partner with at least six additional health facilities along the Gulf Coast for new projects.

As part of its ongoing support programs, Direct Relief has delivered more than 650 shipments valued at more than $7.2 million to more than 220 healthcare providers in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia since Hurricane Helene made landfall.

Operational Snapshot

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 529 shipments containing 2.5M doses of medication during the past seven days to organizations, including the following:

Around the World

Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 10.1M defined daily doses of medication totaling 48,234 lbs., to countries including the following:

YEAR TO DATE

Since January 1, 2024, Direct Relief has delivered 21.3K shipments to 2,290 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 88 countries. These shipments contained 364.6M defined daily doses of medication valued at $1.4B (wholesale) and totaled 4.4M lbs.

In the News

Mountain Fire burns over 20K acres; 132 structures, mostly homes, destroyed, 88 damaged – Ventura County Star

CRE: Community Health Center unveils new battery system – Pacific Coast Business Times

At Florida Health Centers, “A Rush of Folks” Seek Mental Health Care in Hurricane Aftermath – Community Health Forum

The post As Mountain Fire Exceeds 20,000 Acres, Response Continues appeared first on Direct Relief.

Direct Relief’s Response to California Wildfires

Direct Relief is headquartered approximately 45 miles north of the fire, and is deploying staff and resources to assist residents, emergency responders, and firefighters battling the blaze. Direct Relief is in the process of delivering 3M-donated N95 respirators to help people at risk from wildfire smoke, essential hygeine items for evacuees in shelters, and emergency medical supplies to support first responders and healthcare professionals in the affected area.

Direct Relief is in frequent contact with state and local organizations to gauge needs and offer support, including to the Ventura County Office of Emergency Services, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, California Primary Care Association, and California Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. Offers have also been made to local safety clinics and partners to provide assistance as needs arise, and the organization stands ready to make more masks available to residents should air quality deteriorate further.

Support for Healthcare Facilities in Emergencies

As part of Direct Relief’s commitment to enhancing resilience in the face of natural disasters, the organization’s Power for Health initiative has equipped healthcare facilities across California with solar and battery storage systems. This initiative ensures that health centers and free clinics can continue operating during power outages, allowing them to provide uninterrupted care to vulnerable populations during wildfire events and other emergencies. Direct Relief’s recent projects include installations at community health centers in Santa Maria and Simi Valley, strengthening critical healthcare infrastructure when it is most needed.

Wildfire Response Expertise

Direct Relief has a long history of responding to wildfires in California, from the devastating Camp Fire to recent fires across the state. Through partnerships with local agencies and healthcare facilities, the organization has provided personal protective equipment, medical supplies, and financial support to aid communities impacted by wildfires. Direct Relief remains ready to respond to the ongoing Mountain Fire and to continue supporting impacted communities.

The post Direct Relief Responding as Mountain Fire Explodes in Ventura County, Calif., 0% Contained appeared first on Direct Relief.

Medications and supplies shipped this week included field medic packs for triage care, diabetes and hemophilia-focused medicines, anti-inflammatories, personal protective equipment, anesthetics, rare disease therapies, and more.

Tropical Storm Trami Hits the Philippines, Larger Region

Tropical Storm Trami made landfall in the northeastern Philippines last week, killing at least 152 people. Known locally as Kristine, the storm brought heavy flooding and landslides which, along with strong winds, have hampered relief efforts.

In an initial response, Direct Relief, which has staff based in the Philippines, offered field medic packs equipped with medical essentials to the Philippines’ Department of Health and to the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, and remains ready to respond to requests from partner organizations in the area.

The Philippines, the greater Southeast Asia region, and China were hit earlier this year by Typhoon Yagi, which killed dozens of people, and by Typhoon Gaemi. Direct Relief coordinated with the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) to assess and respond to needs throughout Southeast Asia.

Major flooding has also taken place throughout the year in Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. In India, the flooding triggered a major mudslide in July. A medical bus purchased with Direct Relief funds by Amrita Hospital in Kerala, India, was deployed in response. This week, a requested three-pallet shipment was dispatched to Dhulikhel Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, in response to flooding and landslides in that country.

Flood events in South Asia are frequently connected to cyclones and tropical storms. After landfall in the Philippines and Vietnam, they weaken into low-pressure systems as they move inland. Within a week, these systems reach the Himalayas, where they can generate heavy rainfall that flows southward, leading to flooding in Nepal and extending into northern Pakistan and India.

Direct Relief will continue to respond as needed.

Direct Relief Storytelling Reaches New Global Audiences

Direct Relief’s co-produced short documentary with the BBC, the “Invisible Impacts of Wildfires,” was screened this week at the Tel Aviv International Film Festival by CINEVERSE. The documentary explores survival and resilience five years after the devastating Camp Fire in Butte County, California. Through the voices of healthcare providers at local health center Ampla Health and survivors, the video reveals harrowing, life-or-death moments from that day and the sustained efforts to rebuild and protect a community’s vital medical clinic, with a focus on resilient power, thereby ensuring care for all, no matter the challenge ahead.

The short doc premiered at the BBC Studios in New York City last year, has also been shown at the World Health Organization’s Health for All Film Festival, COP28 UAE in Dubai, and screened at Direct Relief’s headquarters with a panel featuring former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, UCSB Professor Olivier Deschenes, Washington Post Journalist Brianna Sacks. According to the BBC, the series has over 25 million views across social media.

“Invisible Impacts of Wildfires” is part of the BBC’s “The Climate & Us” series, which explores the global link between climate and health, as well as highlighting innovative healthcare solutions.

Supporting Local Veterans in Santa Barbara County

Last weekend, local nonprofit Santa Barbara County Veterans Stand Down held its 12th annual event to support veterans who are homeless or otherwise at-risk with free access to food, legal services, clothing, hygiene items, haircuts, medical care, social services, and more. Direct Relief, headquartered in Santa Barbara County, California, supported the event with donated personal care products, including soap, razors, and other hygiene items, sunscreen, and N95 masks.

Operational Snapshot

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 366 shipments containing 916,012 doses of medication during the past seven days to organizations, including the following:

Around the World

Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 1.1M defined daily doses of medication totaling 16,811 lbs., to countries including the following:

YEAR TO DATE

Since January 1, 2024, Direct Relief has delivered 20.6K shipments to 2,282 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 88 countries. These shipments contained 351.5M defined daily doses of medication valued at $1.4B (wholesale) and totaled 4.4M lbs.

In the News

Heat, Carnival donate $2M to Direct Relief in support of hurricane recovery efforts – NBA.com

Going solar! Ventura County clinic gets solar power system which keeps it running during blackouts – KCLU

Teva, in Partnership With Direct Relief, Honored by U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for Mental Health Efforts – Accesswire

Community Health Centers cuts ribbon on solar, battery system at Skyway Telehealth Center – Santa Maria Times

The post Responding to Tropical Storm Trami in Southeast Asia appeared first on Direct Relief.

The award winners were revealed during the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Business Solves Conference on October 29, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The Annual Citizens Awards recognize the most innovative and impactful initiatives that leverage a company’s talent, resources, and expertise to improve communities.

The company was honored for the “Community Routes: Access to Mental Health Care” program, which helps uninsured patients access healthcare for anxiety and depression, and is a partnership between Direct Relief, the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) and Teva Pharmaceuticals.

“Access to holistic, culturally-appropriate mental health care is critically important, often to a lifesaving extent,” said Katie Lewis, Director of U.S. Programs for Direct Relief. “Direct Relief is privileged to work with Teva and NAFC to increase that access to care, and this program is a wonderful example of partnerships that make a positive impact on people’s lives. This recognition shines a bright light on the essential work free and charitable clinics do every day in service of their patients.”

The program provides access to a portfolio of donated medicines for anxiety and depression, valued at over $17 million; Teva has committed $2 million of grant funding over two years to free and charitable clinics that care for uninsured patients.

The program was launched in June 2022, following which the pilot states of Florida, New Jersey, and California received product donations and subsequently grant funding to selected clinics.

The post Teva, in Partnership with Direct Relief, Honored by U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for Mental Health Efforts appeared first on Direct Relief.

The two severe storms, with Milton following almost immediately on Helene’s heels, created urgent, widespread health needs across the southeastern United States. Both hurricanes hit a number of the same vulnerable communities, compounding their impacts.

These Direct Relief grants provide $25,000 to individual health centers, charitable clinics, and other nonprofit providers responding to these crises. Their purpose is to keep health care services accessible to low-income patients affected by these disasters, helping to minimize the deadly long-term impacts of hurricanes.

“In times of crisis, it’s often the compassion of total strangers that reminds us of the strength and resilience of our shared humanity,” wrote Blue Ridge Community Health Services, a grant recipient. Direct Relief also supported the North Carolina health center’s response to Helene with field medic packs, hygiene kits, tetanus vaccines, and other material aid. “Our patients experienced not just relief but the knowledge that people — often from many, many miles and states way — cared enough to offer help in their most difficult moments.”

Helene’s brutal track left damaged roads and devastated towns in in its wake, including areas of western North Carolina thought to be comparatively safe from storm threats. Flooding, power and water loss, and inaccessible roads made it difficult for people to receive emergency health care, access vital medications, or even drink clean water. Because health centers and other nonprofit health providers were contending with damaged facilities, displaced staff members, and a lack of access to reliable power or clean water, their own ability to respond was compromised, exacerbating the crisis.

While Milton’s scale and power were lesser than feared, the storm’s impact was considerable, and worsened by its path over a number of already hard-hit Florida communities. Power outages and severe flooding were widespread; unexpected tornadoes caused deaths and damage. Doctors and emergency responders encountered acute medical situations in devastated mobile and senior communities like Spanish Lakes.

These emergency grants enable community health providers to respond to increased needs caused by natural disasters, while quickly restoring continuity of care for vulnerable patients. Funding will cover the cost of critical supplies, staffing, repairs, and other necessities. As nonprofit health organizations prepare to care for patients with physical trauma, worsened chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes, mental health concerns, interrupted prenatal services, and other long-term disaster impacts, the grants will support their on-the-ground work.

The grant recipient organizations are:

• Appalachian District Health Department, Sparta, NC
• Appalachian Mountain Community Health Centers, Asheville, NC
• Blue Ridge Community Health Services, Hendersonville, NC
• CenterPlace Health, Sarasota, FL
• Cherokee Health Systems, Talbott, TN
• Community Care Clinic of Rowan County, Salisbury, NC
• Evara Health, Clearwater, FL
• Family Health Source, Deland, FL
• Gaston Family Health Services, Gastonia, NC
• Good Samaritan Clinic, Morganton, NC
• High Country Community Health, Boone, NC
• Hot Springs Health Program, Marshall, NC
• Langley Health Services, Sumterville, FL
• MCR Health, Bradenton, FL
• Mountain Area Health Education Center, Ashevile, NC
• Mountain Community Health Partnership, Bakersville, NC
• NC MedAssist, Charlotte, NC
• Oceana Community Health, Boynton Beach, FL
• Palms Medical Group, High Springs, FL
• Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, Raleigh, NC
• Premier Community HealthCare, Dade City, FL
• Rural Medical Systems, Inc., Newport, TN
• Suncoast Community Health Centers, Brandon, FL
• Tampa Family Health Centers, Tampa, FL
• Treasure Coast Community Health, Vero Beach, FL
• Vecinos, Inc., Cullowhee, NC
• West Caldwell Health Council, Collettsville, NC
• Western North Carolina Community Health Services, Asheville, NC

Direct Relief’s emergency grant funding is part of a broad disaster response, which includes the provision of material aid such as first aid supplies and essential medicines; kits designed for disaster preparedness and in-the-field care; nutrition and hydration support; the outfitting of mobile clinics designed for emergency efforts; and long-term collaborations with community health partners focused on resilience and recovery.

In the aftermath of Helene and Milton, Direct Relief has provided more than $3.3 million in immediate material aid to providers in affected states, a number that does not include grant funding or long-term preparedness measures such as mobile vehicle purchases or the pre-season staging of Hurricane Preparedness Packs.

Direct Relief remains committed to supporting health centers, free clinics, and charitable pharmacies in providing uninterrupted care as recovery efforts continue.

Licensed to distribute prescription medications nationwide, including in North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee, Direct Relief runs the country’s largest nonprofit charitable medicines program, providing both routine and emergency medical support for low-income patients at more than 1,600 community health care organizations.

The post 28 Local Health Providers Awarded $700K for Hurricane Helene and Milton Recovery Efforts appeared first on Direct Relief.

The funds will broadly support initiatives focused on diversification of the healthcare workforce, elimination of health disparities, and support of technology and/or innovation.The announcement was made during this NAFC Charitable Healthcare Symposium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sept. 30.

“Direct Relief is privileged to support the free and charitable clinics across the U.S. caring for patients with few options, and who can end up in medical crisis without consistent medical services,” said Thomas Tighe, CEO of Direct Relief. “NAFC has been a longstanding partner of Direct Relief, and these funds will serve as a force multiplier to allow them to do even more for the clinics they represent, which translate to more patients reached.”

“We are extremely grateful for Direct Relief’s ongoing commitment to the NAFC, our members, and the patients we serve,” said Nicole Lamoureux, President & CEO of NAFC. “It is through the steadfast dedication and generosity of partners like Direct Relief that we are able to continue building healthy communities for all through quality, equitable, accessible healthcare.”

In addition to last month’s funding announcement, Direct Relief has provided more than $1.3 billion worth of medications to 800 free & charitable clinics and charitable pharmacies since 2009. Medicines, medical supplies, and over-the-counter items donated by Direct Relief have pulsed from Direct Relief’s warehouse to free clinics and charitable pharmacies via 95,800 deliveries during that time

Direct Relief has also provided more than $17 million in funding to 86 free & charitable clinics and pharmacies. Those funds have supported clinics through disaster preparedness and response, chronic disease management, mental health, women’s health, health equity, and resilient power and infrastructure.

The post Direct Relief Commits $1 Million to Free and Charitable Clinics Serving Patients Throughout the U.S. appeared first on Direct Relief.

Medications and supplies shipped this week included insulin, vitamins, medication refrigeration systems, and more.

Supporting Health Providers after Hurricanes Helene and Milton

Less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene made landfall over Florida’s Big Bend region and triggered historic flooding and landslides across western North Carolina, Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm near Siesta Key, a barrier island off Florida’s southwest coast. Hurricane Milton’s arrival brought hurricane-force winds, heavy rainfall of up to 18 inches, and dangerous storm surge, and triggered more than 120 tornado warnings across central and southern Florida.

In North Carolina, relief and recovery efforts—including debris removal, service restoration, and the delivery of emergency food, water, and other assistance—continue now nearly three weeks following Hurricane Helene’s passage. As of October 16, state officials had verified 95 storm-related deaths, while nearly 100 people remained missing.

Direct Relief’s hurricane response

In response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Direct Relief has made available $78 million in essential medicines and medical supplies to community health centers, free and charitable clinics, and other healthcare partners in hurricane-affected areas.

In addition, Direct Relief has committed $750,000 in emergency operating grants to 30 healthcare provider partners, many of which have reported storm-related damages, loss of medicines, and site closures due to continued communications, power, and water outages. The grants seek to provide a financial cushion, enabling these safety net providers to launch critical mobile health and community outreach initiatives, procure urgently needed supplies, and cover other unanticipated expenses following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

As of October 17, Direct Relief had dispatched 77 shipments of specifically requested emergency medical aid valued at nearly $1.5 million to 21 healthcare providers responding to the needs of storm-affected communities in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. In addition to commonly requested items, such as antibiotics, emergency medical backpacks, hygiene kits, over-the-counter products, personal protective equipment, and medications to manage chronic diseases, Direct Relief is responding to increased requests for tetanus vaccine, hepatitis A and B vaccines, epinephrine for allergic reactions from bee and yellow jacket stings, oral rehydration salts, and water purification tablets, reflective of the widespread flooding and water service outages in many storm-affected areas.

Direct Relief is also preparing to deliver re-entry kits comprising personal protective equipment intended to minimize the risks associated with returning to one’s community or property following a disaster event to support communities in North Carolina that experienced significant flooding.

In addition to these emergency relief efforts, Direct Relief continues to support healthcare providers in states affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as across the U.S., with ongoing donations of essential medicines and medical supplies. Since Hurricane Helene’s landfall, Direct Relief has delivered 243 shipments valued at more than $1.9 million to 116 healthcare providers in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee

–Reporting by Sofie Blomst

Coordinating Emergency Response and Logistics in Africa

This week, Direct Relief staff visited Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to meet with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, the Ethiopian Diabetes Association, and the Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service. Direct Relief also conducted site visits with ongoing program support partners.

A shipment of emergency supplies from Direct Relief was delivered to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health this week, coinciding with the organization’s visit, in response to the devastating landslides that occurred in Ethiopia’s Gofa zone over the summer, which resulted in over 250 fatalities. Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa and 10th most populous in the world. On Thursday, Direct Relief met with Her Excellency Dr. Mekdes Daba, the Ethiopian Minister of Health, to present Direct Relief’s history of support to Ethiopia and new opportunities for closer cooperation with the MOH.

Direct Relief met with the Africa CDC Headquarters to discuss the ongoing mpox outbreak that has been spreading through Central and West Africa. The two organizations coordinated an emergency response for the current mpox outbreak, and have begun developing a strategy for Direct Relief to continue to support Africa CDC’s disease outbreak responses continent-wide. The current outbreak has led to 31,166 suspected cases and 844 confirmed fatalities, 87% of which have occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Health Center in North Carolina Completes Resilient Power System

The Goshen Medical Center, in Clinton, North Carolina, received the state’s second solar power system from Direct Relief’s Power for Health initiative. The health center’s solar power system is now fully operational and will provide reliable power for up to 26 hours off grid.

Direct Relief’s Power for Health Initiative seeks to bring clean, renewable backup power to community health centers and free clinics to ensure they can deliver critical healthcare services during power outages.

Operational Snapshot

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 627 shipments containing 2.7M doses of medication during the past seven days to organizations, including the following:

Around the World

Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 3.1M defined daily doses of medication totaling 43,450 lbs., to countries including the following:

YEAR TO DATE

Since January 1, 2024, Direct Relief has delivered 19.8K shipments to 2,261 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 88 countries. These shipments contained 346M defined daily doses of medication valued at $1.4B (wholesale) and totaled 4.3M lbs.  

In the News

• North Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding – AP News
• Hurricanes’ hidden toll: Thousands of deaths years after they strike – The Washington Post
• How to help after Hurricane Milton and what to do if you need aid – The Washington Post
• Here’s how to help victims of Hurricane Milton – NBC News
• Direct Relief CEO shares how the non-profit will help Floridians impacted by Hurricane Milton – CBS News
• How to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene: Charities, organizations to support relief efforts – ABC News
• How to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene: Charities, organizations to support relief efforts – Good Morning America
• Hurricane Milton – Charity Navigator
• Here’s what it is like to be a Hurricane Helene first responder – Fast Company
• Here’s how New Yorkers can help Hurricane Helene victims in NC, Florida – Yahoo! News
• SONIC SUNSHINE – LIVESTREAM BENEFIT, OCTOBER 18, 8PM (E) A Show of Unity & Support to Raise Funds for Hurricane Relief
• How tri-state residents can help Hurricane Milton victims – NBC New York
• Take action to help those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton – The Obama Foundation

The post With Recovery Underway, Medical Aid Advances for Those in Path of Hurricanes Helene and Milton appeared first on Direct Relief.

In the past week alone, Direct Relief has deployed more than 2 tons of medical aid and emergency supplies to healthcare providers in Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee, including:

• Medications: Antibiotics, chronic disease medications, and epinephrine for allergic reactions.
• Vaccines: Tetanus and hepatitis vaccines due to increased risk from flooding.
• Emergency and First Aid Supplies: Items such as bandages, gauze, and hydrocortisone cream were sent in significant quantities, supporting wound care and minor injuries.
• Essential Supplies: Personal protective equipment (PPE), oral rehydration salts, and water purification tablets.

The post In Multi-State Response, Medical Aid Reaches Hurricane Impacted Communities appeared first on Direct Relief.

Mass evacuations and storm surge warnings watches are in place throughout much of Florida’s west coast with storm surges of 8 to 12 feet and 5 to 10 inches of rain predicted.

The National Hurricane Center has issued warnings about “life-threatening,” devastating,” and “destructive” storm surges along both the Yucatan and Florida peninsulas. With two major hurricanes threatening the same area, the potential for devastating flooding, high winds, and long-term destruction is significant.

State-issued alerts to residents have warned the impact of Milton could be “devastating to catastrophic.” The National Hurricane Center has advised all local preparations to be completed by tomorrow night, as the storm is expected to arrive early on Wednesday. Tampa International Airport will be closed starting at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Direct Relief’s Response

As Direct Relief continues to respond to Hurricane Helene’s impacts across multiple states, the organization is coordinating with local, state, and national organizations to address the growing medical needs expected from Milton’s impact.

Direct Relief currently has staff in Florida and continues to work closely with the Florida Association of Community Health Centers and the Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics to ensure essential medical supplies reach health organizations serving vulnerable populations.

Ahead of hurricane season, Direct Relief pre-positions emergency medical supplies in storm-prone areas across the U.S. Gulf Coast and the Caribbean. These preparedness packs are critical for sustaining health services during and after hurricanes. Many clinics in Helene and Milton’s projected paths are already equipped with these emergency modules.

Direct Relief maintains an extensive inventory of essential medicines to support people with chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure, who may lose access to their medications due to evacuations or storm damage. Additionally, field medic packs, personal protective equipment, and vaccines like tetanus will be made available for those involved in post-storm recovery and debris cleanup.

Direct Relief will respond to needs as they become known, with a mission of providing the most vulnerable communities with critical aid in the storm’s aftermath.

The post Florida’s West Coast Braces for Hurricane Milton appeared first on Direct Relief.

The Category 4 storm made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region last week, and heavy rains and high winds wreaked havoc in neighboring states, causing widespread power outages, infrastructure damage to roadways and public service facilities, including municipal water supplies. The organization opened up access to its $74 million inventory of emergency medicines for needs arising from the storms.

As a result, Direct Relief has shipped and continues to mobilize medical aid for local organizations, including health organizations in Florida, Tennessee, and Asheville, North Carolina, which have requested emergency support, including field medic packs, which include first aid essentials and personal care kits, containing hygiene items including soap and shampoo, for people displaced by the storms.

In the wake of a disaster, healthcare organizations most frequently make requests for medical aid in the days and weeks after the most immediate threat has subsided, once it becomes possible to accurately evaluate local medical needs.

For that reason, Direct Relief will continue to communicate with organizations on the ground and make its extensive medical inventory available to regional healthcare providers. Direct Relief has staff in Florida and Georgia currently assessing continued needs.

In the wake of a storm or other natural disaster, continuity of care is often disrupted, making it difficult for people who need medication and supplies to manage chronic health conditions.

If conditions like diabetes and hypertension are left unmanaged, they can quickly become life-threatening, which is particularly dangerous when emergency resources are taxed.

While death counts generally only include fatalities directly connected to the storms, indirect deaths are a real and widespread concern. On Monday, more than 1.7 million customers were without power in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, according to PowerOutage.us. Large-scale power outages can create their own health risks and add another layer of complexity to emergency response. Lack of access to power can harm people who rely on medical devices, rendering home supplies of insulin unusable, and exacerbating existing health issues.

Direct Relief will continue to closely monitor the health situation in Hurricane Helene-impacted areas.

The post Hurricane Helene Response: Direct Relief Commits $250,000 as Medical Aid Pulses to Communities appeared first on Direct Relief.

Medications and supplies shipped this week included personal protective equipment, surgical necessities, rare disease therapies, and more.

One Year Later, Morocco Continues to Recover After Devastating Quake

The 2023 Morocco earthquake devastated the region, recording more than 2,900 casualties and over 5,500 injuries from the quake. Internal displacement in the country peaked at an estimated 500,000 and over 50,000 homes were totally or partially collapsed across the five provinces affected. The remote, largely indigenous Amazigh villages of the High Atlas Mountains that were most impacted by the earthquake are also home to many of the country’s most vulnerable populations.

In response to the earthquake, Direct Relief mobilized more than 20 tons of material aid as well as more than $600,000 in funding to support acute and long-term recovery efforts focused on search and rescue operations, emergency maternal and child health services, ambulance procurement, resilient solar power for health centers, and building of a community health center.

Recently, Direct Relief staff visited Morocco to meet with partner organizations that received emergency funding in response to the 2023 earthquake.

Direct Relief visited the ongoing construction of Mayshad Community Health Center in Tansghart, Al Haouz district. This primary health center will serve 687 families in the earthquake-affected, remote villages of Tansghart in the Atlas Mountains and is expected to be completed in early 2025.

Direct Relief staff also visited the Asni Women’s Health Center, which provides labor and delivery services, pre-and post-natal care, and general gynecological services for the area and clinicians there see an average of 80 women per day.

The 10 solar panels installed on the roof of the clinic provide the energy needed to consistently power essential medical equipment including newborn incubators, vaccine refrigerators, patient monitoring devices, as well as administrative systems for the center. This installation is one of 30 centers receiving solar panel systems as part of a $105,000 grant from Direct Relief to fund long-term earthquake recovery, implemented by local Moroccan NGO, the Illy Foundation.

U.S. Overdose Numbers Drop

For the first time in a decade, deaths in the U.S. due to drug overdose are down, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A decline of roughly 10.6 percent in deaths caused by drugs has been recorded by national surveys taken by the CDC. One reason for this decrease is due to the availability and education of naloxone, an overdose-reversing drug, according to public health experts.

Direct Relief has distributed more than 2.7 million doses of naloxone since 2017, including to public health departments, educational institutions, harm reduction groups, health centers, and free clinics across the United States.

Naloxone Support Across the U.S.

Opioid Crisis

Responding to the Opioid Crisis in West Virginia

oPIOID cRISIS

‘No One Else Has To Die’: L.A.-Area Group Fights Overdoses

oPIOID cRISIS

NOLA Providers Step Up for Patients in Recovery

Operational Snapshot

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 572 shipments containing 1.3M doses of medication during the past seven days to organizations, including the following:

Around the World

Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 3.4M defined daily doses of medication totaling 60,765 lbs., to countries including the following:

YEAR TO DATE

Since January 1, 2024, Direct Relief has delivered 18.1K shipments to 2,192 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 86 countries. These shipments contained 333.8M defined daily doses of medication valued at $1.2B (wholesale) and totaled 4M lbs.  

The post Resilient Power Shines After Morocco’s 2023 Earthquake appeared first on Direct Relief.

Medications shipped this week included anti-inflammatory therapies, diabetes management medications, rare disease therapies, chronic disease treatments, and more.

Emergency Response Continues Across the U.S.

This week, a Category 2 hurricane and several wildfires are among the natural disasters that impacted the United States. Hurricane Francine made landfall in Louisiana and three major wildfires are blazing in Southern California: the Line, Bridge, and Airport Fires.

Hurricane Francine hit in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, on Wednesday with gusts of wind exceeding 100 miles per hour. The storm knocked out power for 93% of Terrebonne residents initially, and about 89,000 people were without power across the state on Friday afternoon. CrescentCare, a federally qualified health center and Direct Relief Power for Health resilient power recipient, reported maintaining power despite a two-day local outage.

Heavy rains caused flash flooding, and dozens of water rescues were reported. In St. Charles Parish, just west of New Orleans, about 350 structures were known to be damaged

Prior to the storm, Direct Relief was in communication with health providers in the area about potential needs. Three clinics in Louisiana requested and will receive hurricane-related aid: Southeast Community Health Systems, Crescent Care, and St. Gabriel Eastside Community Health Center.

In response to the three wildfires in Southern California, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. The Bridge Fire, which is currently the largest of the trio, is 3% contained, the Line Fire is 21% contained, and the Airport Fire is 8% contained.

The total acreage burned so far this year in all California wildfires exceeds the 5-year average, year to date: about 990,000 acres compared to the 903,000 acres. One person has been killed by wildfires this year in California and 1,439 structures have been damaged or destroyed.

On Friday, Direct Relief delivered 50,000 requested N-95 masks to San Bernardino’s Emergency Operations Center.

Addressing Tuberculosis in Syria

Since June 2023, the Syria Relief and Development, or SRD, organization has been operating the Azaz Tuberculosis (TB) Center, the only TB facility serving a population of over 1 million people in Northern Syria. Throughout this period, the center provided 1,635 consultations and treated 104 TB patients, ensuring compliance with World Health Organization standards.

The center’s operation costs, which include staff salaries and maintenance, have been fully covered by Direct Relief, and the center conducts key activities, such as patient education, family outreach, and treatment compliance monitoring, which have been crucial in reducing TB-related deaths and stigma.

In addition, SRD’s warehouse operations in Dana and Azaz, which distribute essential medications to 19 health facilities, have undergone significant improvements, supported by Direct Relief funding. Despite challenges such as earthquake damage and power shortages, infrastructure upgrades including cold chain maintenance for insulin storage, installation of solar panels, and the introduction of semi-automatic forklifts have optimized the storage and distribution processes. These efforts have ensured uninterrupted access to life-saving medical supplies, benefiting over 800,000 people across the region.

Operational Snapshot

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 532 shipments containing 593,193 doses of medication during the past seven days to organizations, including the following:

AROUND THE WORLD

Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 12.6M defined daily doses of medication totaling 68,224 lbs., to countries including the following:

YEAR TO DATE

Since January 1, 2024, Direct Relief has delivered 17.5K shipments to 2,140 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 85 countries. These shipments contained 329.2.0M defined daily doses of medication valued at $1.1B (wholesale) and totaled 3.9M lbs.  

The post Responding to California Wildfires, Hurricane Francine appeared first on Direct Relief.

Communities in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi are likely to experience impacts from the growing storm. Experts are predicting storm surges as high as 10 feet in some areas, and up to eight inches of rain. The U.S. Gulf Coast, particularly in Texas, has already experienced repeated extreme weather events this year, including July’s Hurricane Beryl, which led to dozens of deaths, large-scale displacements, widespread power outages, and interruptions to health care.

Direct Relief’s Response

In preparation for hurricanes and tropical storms each year, Direct Relief distributes and monitors caches of medications and supplies, called hurricane preparedness packs, throughout the Gulf Coast and other vulnerable areas. The packs contain medical essentials, including chronic disease medications, wound care supplies, and other items commonly requested after storms for patient care.

Extreme weather events are likely to disrupt routine health care, leading to lost medications and unmanaged chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, and hypertension. A combination of rising floodwaters and increased risk of injury often creates an urgent need for first aid, tetanus vaccines, and therapies to manage water-borne illness. The aftermath of a storm often brings the risk for contagious diseases, as people shelter in close quarters, and increases the need for mental health services.

In recent years, power loss coupled with hot weather has become an increasing danger. For example, in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, the climbing death toll was largely caused by sweltering heat, as people were forced to shelter in their homes without air conditioning or other cooling measures.

Experts predicted that the 2024 hurricane season would be busier than normal, with up to 25 named storms. A period of relative calm in August and early September caused speculation that the season would be calmer than expected, but experts still expect a higher-than-normal amount of tropical storm activity. Hurricane season extends until November 30.

Direct Relief has an extensive history in the U.S. of responding to Gulf Coast hurricanes, and is in communication with national, state, and local organizations, including health centers and free clinics expected to be impacted by the storm.

The organization will continue to monitor Tropical Storm Francine and respond to requests for support.

The post Tropical Storm Francine, Gaining Strength and Power, Threatens U.S. Gulf Coast appeared first on Direct Relief.

As of Monday, the wildfire had grown above 20,500 acres and was threatening more than 36,000 homes and other structures. Despite official efforts — CAL FIRE reports that more than 1,700 firefighters are assigned to the Line Fire — the blaze was only 3% contained. Although the heat wave that has swept southern California is expected to fade after Monday, vegetation in the area remains dangerously dry.

The blaze follows several days of triple-digit temperatures and power outages that have affected southern California communities, including in San Bernardino County.

Additional wildfires in populated areas, such as the Boyles Fire in California’s Lake County, have burned structures and placed tens of thousands of people under evacuation orders and warnings. The South Coast Air Quality Management District has warned millions of people at risk from “unhealthy,” “very unhealthy,” or “hazardous” air quality to stay indoors, and to wear N95 masks for protection if outside.

Health Risks and Wildfires

Wildfires bring a host of health risks that range from immediate to long-term. Smoke, particulates, and ash can cause asthma attacks or acute distress in individuals with respiratory and cardiovascular issues, and eye and lung issues are a risk for everyone exposed to wildfire smoke.

Evacuations, such as those mandated by the Line Fire, cause interruptions to lifesaving health care and seriously increase the risk that chronic conditions like diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease will become unmanaged. Because people frequently evacuate without medications and essential supplies, first responders frequently request chronic disease treatments as part of an emergency response.

Over the long term, displacement, trauma, and the socioeconomic consequences of fire can create or worsen health conditions.

Direct Relief’s Response

Direct Relief is headquartered in California and responds to wildfires throughout the country. The organization maintains an extensive inventory of fire-related supplies, such as N95 masks, inhalers, eye drops, first aid items, chronic disease medications, blood sugar monitoring equipment, and personal protective equipment.

In response to the current wildfires, Direct Relief is in contact with the California Office of Emergency Services, the California Primary Care Association, and community health centers and free clinics near the fire to offer support and determine healthcare needs.

The organization will continue to monitor the fire’s spread and work with partners to evaluate appropriate response measures.

The post Thousands Evacuate as Line Fire, Other Blazes Threaten California Communities appeared first on Direct Relief.

The provision of health services requires a continuous supply of electricity to power lights and diagnostic equipment, allow access to electronic health records, and maintain temperature-sensitive medications. Direct Relief’s expanded commitment seeks to address the increasingly frequent problem of health service interruptions during power outages caused by extreme weather, such as wildfires, heat waves, hurricanes, and flood-causing storms.

Direct Relief’s expanded effort builds on its ongoing support and emergency response efforts in all 50 states and territories of the U.S. to the network of nonprofit clinics and health centers that serve as the national healthcare safety net, providing care to over 38 million patients who, compared to the general U.S. population, have lower incomes, less wealth, include more people of all racial and ethnic minority populations, and have less access to needed primary healthcare services.

Extreme weather events and emergency situations create enhanced health risks for people who rely on nonprofit health facilities. Such events create new health risks and the need for expanded health services, even as the availability of services is likely to be severely reduced or lost due to power outages.

Direct Relief’s Power for Health Initiative provides grant funding to health clinics that serve vulnerable and underserved patient populations to cover the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of solar power and battery storage microgrids. The nonprofit clinics and health centers own the systems and derive 100% of the benefits – the resiliency benefits coming from batteries that provide power in the event of an outage, and the immediate and recurring financial benefits of reduced utility costs coming from generating their own electricity through the solar panels.

“Power outages are inconvenient for anyone, but they can be devastating for patients whose access to care is at their local nonprofit clinic or health center, when a prolonged blackout causes the facility to close or the loss of refrigerated medications, insulin, or vaccines – a scenario Direct Relief has unfortunately seen too many times,” said Thomas Tighe, President and CEO of Direct Relief.

“Direct Relief is expanding the commitment because of the clear, urgent need that remains unaddressed and because the completed projects have successfully shown the obvious, essential benefits of ensuring care is available for people who need it most when most needed. Moreover, as a philanthropic investment, the financial benefits of this approach have proven to be powerful – the savings that occur each year effectively amount to an annual operating grant to the clinic, with the amounts over time far exceeding what Direct Relief could provide.”

The latest infusion of support is focused on bringing reliable power to U.S. nonprofit clinics and community health centers. Community health centers provide care annually for 1 in 11 people in the U.S. and serve as the healthcare home for America’s most vulnerable populations, including 1 in 5 of America’s uninsured, 1 in 6 Medicaid beneficiaries, 1 in 3 individuals living in poverty, according to the National Association for Community Health Centers. Free and charitable clinics are also part of the nation’s health safety net, and those clinics recorded 5.7 million patient visits in 2023, according to the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. More than 8 out of 10 patients were uninsured, according to NAFC, and reported living at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

More Power for Health projects continue to come online at nonprofit clinics and health centers nationwide, with 20 completed projects in Puerto Rico, Louisiana, North Carolina, and California and dozens in the design and construction pipeline – including in Texas and Florida. The latest facilities where Direct Relief-funded resilient power systems have been completed include Harmony Health Medical Clinic (Marysville, CA), in an area prone to explosive wildfires, and Goshen Medical Center (Tabor City, NC), at high risk of hurricanes.

The post Direct Relief Commits Additional $10 Million to Expand Resilient Power at U.S. Health Safety-Net Clinics and Health Centers appeared first on Direct Relief.

ICN works to represent nursing worldwide, advance the nursing profession, promote the well-being of nurses, and advocate for health in all policies. ICN’s membership includes 130 national nursing associations representing millions of nurses worldwide.

The partnership has resulted in the appointment of an ICN Humanitarian Liaison Officer, who will use the global expanse of ICN’s member national nurses associations to rapidly access organizations on the ground.

The aim of the partnership is to use nurses’ insights to improve real-time intelligence about situations in specific communities and maximize the efficient deployment of Direct Relief’s disaster relief supply programs.

ICN Chief Executive Officer Howard Catton said the partnership is a perfect fit for both organizations and will make a real difference wherever humanitarian or disaster relief is needed.

“Nurses are deeply embedded in the communities where they live and work. They know both what the health and humanitarian needs are and how best to meet them, even in some of the most challenging situations and environments,” Catton said. “This knowledge and experience, partnered with Direct Relief’s expertise and commitment to the delivery of humanitarian aid, will help to ensure that the most vulnerable people get the quickest access possible to the specific aid and supplies that will help them the most.”

“During every disaster, Direct Relief relies extensively on local health providers to determine what is most needed and where. Nurses are at the forefront of that essential knowledge and patient care, particularly during crisis events,” said Alycia Clark, Direct Relief’s Chief Pharmacy Officer. “Direct Relief is privileged to work with the International Council of Nurses and their deep expertise across multiple specialties promises to guide and expand Direct Relief’s future emergency and humanitarian response.”

The post Direct Relief Partners with the International Council of Nurses to Maximize Humanitarian Aid Response appeared first on Direct Relief.

Recent shipments include ongoing medical support for health facilities in Haiti. Other therapies shipped include medications for breast cancer, rare diseases, and more. Some high-volume supplies delivered this week included surgical drapes, sodium chloride, and N95 masks.

Mpox Declared Global Health Emergency Again

The WHO declared mpox a global health emergency on Aug. 14, 2024, marking the second time the disease has received such a status, the first being in 2022. Case counts have escalated significantly in Africa, with more than 38,000 cases and hundreds of deaths reported across 15 African Union Member States since 2022. In 2024 alone, there has been a dramatic increase in cases, with 15,000 reported, representing a 160% rise from last year, and 500 deaths.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been the most affected, accounting for about 96% of all cases and 97% of deaths this year. Children under 15 are particularly vulnerable and comprise the overwhelming majority of deaths. The outbreak’s rapid spread, especially to displaced persons camps, and the limited access to vaccines and treatments, underscore the urgent need for support.

The DRC declared the mpox outbreak an epidemic in December 2022, and since then, it has spread throughout the country. The emergence of new genetic variants and limited resources have further complicated response efforts.

The outbreak’s expansion to other countries in Africa, including South Africa, Central African Republic, and Nigeria, highlights the growing regional crisis. The need for medical supplies, vaccines, and capacity building is critical to managing this escalating health emergency.

On Monday, Emergent announced that Direct Relief would receive a donation of 50,000 doses of a vaccine for mpox, as well as diluent solution, needles, and syringes required for administration. The donation includes 50,000 doses of ACAM2000®, (Smallpox (Vaccinia) Vaccine, Live) for potential deployment across often difficult-to-reach locations, and as informed by local and regional health authorities.

Direct Relief is preparing to send the vaccines and other aid to health facilities and organizations in impacted countries that include the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and others. Direct Relief is working with the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other organizations to coordinate in-country storage, logistics, and distribution of the vaccines.

Atlantic Hurricane Season Continues

Atlantic hurricane season has so far seen five major storms which have directly led to at least 88 fatalities and more than $8 billion in property damage. This season has seen the earliest recorded Category 5 storm on record, with Hurricane Beryl in July. Hurricanes Beryl and Debby have been the most destructive, severely impacting Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, northern Venezuela, Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

The National Hurricane Center is currently tracking four tropical systems, which have the potential to build into more powerful storms and hurricanes. None are expected to hit the mainland U.S., Caribbean, or Mexico next week. U.S. Hurricane Season officially ends on November 30.

In the Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Hone is predicted to impact Hawaii starting on Saturday, with Hawaii’s Big Island most directly in the storm’s path.

Medical Essentials Arrive in Haiti

Haiti has been in the midst of a rise in civil unrest this year, making aid deliveries challenging amidst a breakdown in logistics networks and security. Direct Relief supported local partners with cash grants to procure supplies locally while ports were closed, and has since resumed material support. Direct Relief has supported Haiti with $430.7 million worth of medical aid since 2010.

Recently, the latest in a series of shipments, including wound care items, diabetes management supplies, prenatal vitamins, and more arrived in Cap Haitien, located in northern Haiti, where Haiti Health Network operates. The organization transported medical aid to multiple health facilities as part of its distribution network, which includes midwifery and birthing centers as well as hospitals and primary care locations.

Direct Relief has provided Haiti Health Network with more than $1.7 million worth of medical support since 2022.

Direct Relief Hosts Brazilian InstrumentalistS

This week, Direct Relief hosted instrumentalist and composer Alejandro Brittes, who shared his award-winning music and his experience before, during, and after the recent environmental catastrophe in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil before a live audience at Direct Relief during his North America tour to raise awareness and support for recovery efforts. Brittes appeared alongside Andre Schmidt Ely and Carlos Eduardo de Cesaro, all members of the Alejandro Brittes Trio.

This past spring, the State of Rio Grande do Sul was devastated by torrential rain and extreme flooding that impacted nearly 90% of the state’s municipalities and more than 2.3 million people.

In response, Direct Relief has been working with the Brazil California Chamber of Commerce, the Pan American Health Organization, and local organizations on the ground in Brazil to provide nutritional supplements, field medic packs for triage care, and emergency funding.

Read more about Direct Relief’s response to the floods.

Operational Snapshot

WORLDWIDE

Over the last week, Direct Relief shipped more than 10.1 million defined daily doses of medication to countries outside the U.S. that include the following:

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 364 shipments containing 631,426 doses of medication during the past seven days to organizations, including the following:

YEAR TO DATE

Since January 1, 2024, Direct Relief has delivered 16,300 shipments to 2,102 partner organizations in all 50 U.S. states, four U.S. territories, and 83 countries.

These shipments contained 308.8 million defined daily doses of medication valued at $990 million (wholesale) and totaled 3.7 million pounds.

In THE NEWS

• Negotiations Progress on Mpox Vaccine for Africa as Cases Spike in Burundi – CIDRAP
• Emergent Joins Mpox Fight with 50,000 Vaccine Dose Donation to Africa – Pharmaceutical Technology
• Emergent Pledges 50K Doses of Smallpox Vax to Help Address Mpox Outbreak in Africa – Fierce Pharma
• As Case Numbers Climb from Deadly Mpox Outbreak, Direct Relief Secures Critical Vaccine Donation – Relief Web
  

The post Medical Support Departs for Haiti, 20 Additional Countries Over the Past Week appeared first on Direct Relief.

The grants, awarded to the Southern Birth Justice Network and the University of Florida Mobile Outreach Clinic, were made possible by a generous donation from the CVS Health Foundation, the independent, philanthropic arm of CVS Health.

“Direct Relief is privileged to support these organizations that work tirelessly to support their communities every day, and that will now be able to expand their services to even more patients,” said Dr. Byron Scott, Direct Relief COO and Co-Chair of the Fund for Health Equity. “We are deeply grateful to the CVS Health Foundation and their leadership, which acts as a powerful force multiplier, allowing more of this essential work to take place for people who need it most.”

The Southern Birth Justice Network based in Miami, Florida, works to expand access to midwifery and doula care for Black, Brown, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, low-income, and other marginalized communities. The organization established the National Black Midwives Alliance, a professional group that represents Black midwives across the U.S., in 2018.

Direct Relief’s grant will support the National Black Midwives Alliance in establishing itself as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and in implementing programs connected to midwives’ and doulas’ work across the country.

In north central Florida, the University of Florida Mobile Outreach Clinic offers primary care to all patients regardless of location, health insurance, immigration status, or income — the only such service in the area.

The grant from Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity will help to establish a new perinatal mobile health clinic, providing clinical services to rural women who are at high risk of poor birth outcomes, many of whom are ineligible for public insurance. The clinic will also offer mental health, pregnancy, postpartum, and lactation support for patients. Training lay community members to become perinatal community health workers, lactation counselors, and doulas will be another focus.

In particular, the purchase of a mobile medical unit and ultrasound machines, and the hiring and training of community members from underrepresented groups in the area, will be funded by the grant.

Since the start of the Fund in 2021, more than $50 million has been provided to support 163 organizations across the U.S.

The awardees were selected by the Fund for Health Equity’s Advisory Council, which includes the following members:

• Co-Chair Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, 18th US Surgeon General of the United States, Founder Bayou Clinic, Inc.
• Co-Chair Byron Scott, MD, MBA, Direct Relief COO
• Martha Dawson, DNP, MSN, RN, FACHE, President and CEO President of the National Black Nurses Association, Associate Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Jane Delgado, Ph.D., MS, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health
• Gail Small, JD, Head Chief Woman, a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe

The post Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity Awards $1.3 Million to Organizations Focused on Maternal Health appeared first on Direct Relief.

These shipments contained 12 million defined daily doses of medication and supplies, including prenatal vitamins, diabetes therapies, rare disease treatments, oncology medications, field medic packs for first responders, and more.

Waters Rise After Hurricane Debby

After Debby’s landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on Monday, the storm was downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm, and then had a second landfall early Thursday, bringing tornadoes, flooding, and power outages.

On Monday, the Florida Association of Community Health Centers reported at least 71 health centers experienced partial or full closure due to Hurricane Debby. In response to Debby, Virgina B. Andes Volunteer Community Clinic, a free clinic in Port Charlotte, Florida, reported opening their Hurricane Preparedness Pack to access chronic disease medications for impacted patients.

The packs are staged in hurricane-prone areas across the U.S. Gulf Coast in advance of Atlantic Hurricane season at the start of each year and contain medical essentials commonly requested after storms.

Direct Relief also recently supported Virginia B. Andes in 2022, after the clinic was hit by Hurricane Ian. This week, Direct Relief shipped requested chronic disease medications and personal care items to the clinic to support their work with patients.

Shipments also departed this week to the University of Florida Mobile Outreach Clinic, which has been providing care for agricultural workers and other community members impacted by the storm in the Gainesville area. The Way Free Medical Clinic in the Jacksonville area also received Direct Relief support, and the Neighborhood Medical Center in the Tallahassee area received diabetes management supplies, medical consumables, and other requested items this week.

As more health facilities come online, Direct Relief expects more requests for support and will continue to respond.

Park Fire One-Third Contained in Northern California

Wildfire response in Northern California is ongoing as the Park Fire, which is currently about one-third contained, continues to rage north of Sacramento.

Last weekend, Direct Relief staff traveled to the region to deliver requested medical aid, including to facilities in Butte County, where the 2018 Camp Fire killed 85 people and destroyed thousands of structures in the Paradise area. Direct Relief staff delivered aid last week to Butte County Public Health’s warehouse, partly funded by Direct Relief, which will eventually be used to consolidate medical supplies in a single location to increase efficiency.

Staff also met with Butte County Search and Rescue, an all-volunteer team that provided door-to-door evacuation notices, mapping support, and coordination efforts with the sheriff’s office during the Park Fire. They also housed 20 firefighters in their training center during the Park Fire response.

Their Rescue 3 vehicle was funded by Direct Relief and has been used as a model for other SAR teams across the state. Each of their response vehicles will now have an emergency medical backpack with medical essentials for triage care.

Medical supplies were also delivered to Shingletown Medical Center and Ampla Health’s health centers in Magalia, Gridley, and Los Molinos.

More wildfire response kits, which contain medical essentials commonly requested during fires, including respiratory and ophthalmic medications and N95 masks, are currently being built and will ship out next week for Butte County Public Health and community health centers in the area.

Operational Snapshot

WORLDWIDE

Over the last week, Direct Relief shipped more than 10.9 million defined daily doses of medication to countries outside the U.S. that include the following:

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 449 shipments containing 1.1 million doses of medication during the past seven days to organizations, including the following:

YEAR TO DATE

Since January 1, 2024, Direct Relief has delivered 15,300 shipments to 2,068 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 83 countries.

These shipments contained 281.9 million defined daily doses of medication valued at $911.7 million (wholesale) and totaled 3.5 million pounds.

In THE NEWS

• Santa Barbara Non-Profit Helping Those Impacted by Catastrophic Flooding in Florida – KCLU
• Beyond the Backpack: Direct Relief and FedEx Revolutionize Disaster Relief – FedEx
• Breast Care International Donates Essential Medicines to Ghanaian Health Facilities through Direct Relief – OncoDaily

The post Hurricane Debby, California Wildfire Responses Remain at the Forefront appeared first on Direct Relief.

The recovery process is ongoing, with many residents still residing in temporary housing and receiving medical care at health facilities operating in temporary or mobile settings.

Since the fires ignited on August 8, 2023, Direct Relief has provided more than $5 million in aid to support 33 local organizations involved in recovery efforts on the island. That includes $3 million in financial aid to organizations serving the Maui community and $2 million in requested medicines and medical supplies like vaccines, insulin, inhalers, emergency medical backpacks for first responders, and personal protective equipment for individuals returning to burn areas–totaling 26 tons.

Direct Relief’s main objective in any large-scale disaster response is to deliver emergency medical resources safely and securely – specifically requested and appropriate for the circumstances – where they are most needed, as rapidly and efficiently as possible.

Direct Relief began working with local organizations to determine needs and requests for aid. Direct Relief leaned into its existing relationships with organizations that have long worked in Hawaiʻi and have trusted relationships with the communities they serve.

Just hours after the fires began, midwives from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaiʻi arrived in the burn zone via jet ski and began treating patients.

Direct Relief provided the group with field medic packs, containing first aid essentials, and also additional requested medicines for patient care.

As needs became clearer, Direct Relief began to channel aid via ongoing shipments to Maui, including specifically requested antibiotics, respiratory medications, vitamins for children and adults, personal protective equipment for people returning to their properties to begin clean-up, hygiene items for people displaced from their homes, and other needed medical products.

As of Aug. 8, 2024, Direct Relief’s Maui Wildfire response efforts have resulted in financial support totaling $3,055,000 and more than 26 tons of medical aid, valued at $2.4 million wholesale, to support the work of health workers and local organizations in the aftermath of the wildfires.

Material Support Provided

Healthcare facilities and organizations that have received medicines and/or supplies include:

Direct Relief also coordinated the distribution of vaccines including protection against Covid-19, influenza, RSV, and pneumococcal infections with the state Department of Health’s immunization branch to these additional healthcare facilities:

Direct Relief was able to supply a large array of medical material support without the expenditure of donor funds due to the in-kind donations from healthcare manufacturers and distributors, many of which Direct Relief works with on an ongoing basis.

Healthcare company donors responded expansively to requests for their participation, including the following:

FedEx also provided funding for many of the emergency medical backpacks sent by Direct Relief.

Financial Support Provided

Thanks to the outpouring of financial support from donors, Direct Relief continues providing cash assistance to help facilities and organizations effectively respond to the ongoing needs of people impacted by Maui wildfires.

To date, Direct Relief has identified, vetted, and committed emergency financial support totaling $3,055,000 for groups responding to community needs related to the wildfires.

Who Donated to the Response?

Direct Relief received contributions from 13,520 donors totaling $5,507,260 from individuals, foundations, businesses, and organizations located in all 50 U.S. states and twenty-two countries.

Of the total amount of Maui wildfire-designated contributions —

Among the companies and campaigns that supported Direct Relief’s response are the following:

How Were the Funds Used?

Of the total Maui wildfire response-designated cash contributions received to date, Direct Relief has expended or committed $4.486 million to improve the health and lives of people affected by the disaster.

This includes:

• $3,055,005 on financial assistance to organizations supporting emergency response
• $136,263 on transportation (paid and pending)
• $513,949 on emergency personnel costs and other organizational response management expenses
• $781,556 on procurement of medical supplies and products, field medic packs, and other supplies

Consistent with Direct Relief’s Donation Policy, 100 percent of funds received for specific emergency events are devoted entirely to those events, and none of the funds donated for Maui wildfire response have been used for fundraising.

(As explained here, all Direct Relief’s fundraising expenses are paid by the Direct Relief Foundation, which uses earnings on previously received bequests to the organization for this purpose and other non-programmatic costs.)

Looking Forward

As long-term recovery continues, Direct Relief remains able to provide support because of its existing strong relationships with local groups that were already receiving ongoing support from Direct Relief through medical material aid and/or grant funding, and new relationships formed following the fire.

Each of these groups has an unwavering commitment to their communities – before, during, and in the recovery phase of the wildfires – and Direct Relief will support their work as Maui continues to recover.

Go Deeper

Prioritizing Health of Body and Mind for Maui Wildfire Survivors

Support for mental and behavioral health needs have skyrocketed in Maui following the wildfires. Doctors on the island say everyone is working to provide solutions.

‘Aloha and Trust.’ Native Hawaiʻian Health Care’s Response to Maui Fires

“It was our first natural disaster, so we were just trying to learn the protocol, what services were expected and if we could contribute to what was going on.”

After the Fires, Providing Community Care in Maui

Prenatal care was limited on Maui before the fires, but groups like Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawai’i are stepping up to fill the gap.

The post Maui Wildfire Response: One Year Later appeared first on Direct Relief.

Tropical Storm Debby is projected to continue heading northward through Georgia towards South Carolina.

According to PowerOutage.us, which tracks over 150 million customers in the United States, about 245,000 customers are without power in Florida. Power is a critical aspect of healthcare, as many lifesaving devices rely on electricity, and safety net providers need reliable power to provide patient care during and after a disaster.

Millions remain under tropical alerts, with experts warning of catastrophic flooding as the storm progresses. The storm has already dropped over 16 inches of rain in parts of Florida’s Manatee County.

Direct Relief Response

In response, Direct Relief has been in contact with national and state emergency response associations as well as safety net health centers in the storm’s path.

Eleven health centers currently in the storm’s forecast cone have received Hurricane Preparedness Packs, which include medicines and supplies that are most urgently needed in the wake of a hurricane, such as treatments for chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

Over the past week, Direct Relief has delivered $69 thousand in requested medical aid to 23 healthcare providers in Florida counties affected by the storm. Items range from baby formula to treatments for diabetes and high blood pressure.

So far in 2024, Direct Relief has provided health facilities in Florida with more than $20 million in medical aid and financial support.

The post Deadly Hurricane Debby Marches Up U.S. East Coast appeared first on Direct Relief.

These shipments contained 11 million defined daily doses of medication and supplies, including insulin, rare disease therapies, oncology medications, field medic packs for first responders, and more.

Responding to California’s Largest Wildfire

A week into the response, first responders continue to battle California’s largest wildfire. The Park Fire spans across four counties in Northern California: Butte, Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama Counties. The fire has spread to almost 400,000 acres and was 24 percent contained on Friday. Residents in the area have received alerts to evacuate their homes.

Direct Relief-supported organizations in the affected areas include the Butte County Public Health Department, Shingletown Medical Center, and Ampla Health. This week, Direct Relief staff delivered field medic packs to equip first responders for triage care outside of clinic walls, N95 masks, electrolytes, oral rehydration salts, and personal care items for people displaced from their homes.

$10 Million for Ukraine Response

This week, Direct Relief announced an additional $10 million commitment to further support healthcare services in Ukraine. The funds will be used to address urgent medical and health infrastructure needs like prosthetics and rehabilitation services, resilient power solutions, flexible primary care solutions, access to essential medications, and mental health and psychosocial support.

Since Feb. 2022, Direct Relief has committed over $42 million in financial assistance and 2,480 tons of medical aid valued at $1.3 billion to support health services in Ukraine.

Operational Snapshot

WORLDWIDE

Over the last week, Direct Relief shipped more than 10.9 million defined daily doses of medication to countries outside the U.S. that include the following:

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 415 shipments containing 139,105 doses of medication during the past seven days to organizations, including the following:

YEAR TO DATE

Since January 1, 2024, Direct Relief has delivered 14,800 shipments to 2,046 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 82 countries.

These shipments contained 270.9 million defined daily doses of medication valued at $884.3 million (wholesale) and totaled 3.5 million pounds.

In THE NEWS

• Direct Relief Deploys Emergency Medical Backpacks Thanks to Support of FedEx – KEYT
• Non-Profit Giant Stepping Down: Thomas Tighe Leaving Santa Barbara-Based Direct Relief – KCLU
• Tighe to Step Down as Direct Relief’s CEO at Year’s End – Pacific Coast Business Times

The post As California Wildfires Blaze, Direct Relief Dispatches Medical Aid to Impacted Communities appeared first on Direct Relief.

“We are grateful for Thomas’ deep commitment to Direct Relief’s mission over the last 24 years and his unwavering servant leadership,” said Direct Relief board chair Mark Linehan. “This next stage at Direct Relief will build upon Thomas’s extraordinary vision and track record to ensure our continued success and growth. It will bring about new opportunities for growth and a recommitment to our mission as the Board begins its executive search to find the next person to support Direct Relief’s efforts to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty and emergencies globally.”

“It has been a privilege every day for nearly 24 years to be part of Direct Relief’s important work to help people in need overcome health challenges and enjoy the wonders of life,” said Direct Relief President and CEO Thomas Tighe. “The organization’s simple humanitarian mission existed long before I arrived, and it remains essential and inspiring. I have complete confidence that Direct Relief will continue to serve people in a thoughtful, respectful, and efficient way and that the organization will thrive.”

Since arriving at the end of 2000, Tighe has overseen Direct Relief’s work as it expanded to become the fifth-largest charity in the United States and among the largest providers of charitable medications within the U.S. and globally. During Tighe’s tenure, funded entirely with private philanthropic support, Direct Relief has provided over $16 billion in essential medicines, equipment, and supplies and more than $350 million in grants to health organizations in 136 countries and all U.S. states and territories. Tighe has led the organization’s responses to domestic and international disasters, from the 2004 Asian Tsunami to Hurricane Katrina and Maria and the war in Ukraine, in which the organization’s ongoing support has exceeded $1.3 billion.

Since the year 2000, Direct Relief has been named among the world’s most innovative nonprofits by Fast Company, has been rated by Forbes as being 99 percent efficient or better in fundraising since 2001, won the Peter F. Drucker Award for Nonprofit Innovation, the CECP Director’s Award, the Esri President’s Award for GIS innovation, the Office of the Surgeon General’s National Leadership and Partnership Award, and became the first U.S. nonprofit to obtain NABP Drug Distributor Accreditation to distribute Rx medications in all 50 U.S. states.

Tighe will continue to serve as President and CEO through the end of the year to help ensure a smooth transition for the next President and CEO and continuity as Direct Relief continues its mission to serve people around the globe.

The post Direct Relief President and CEO Thomas Tighe Departing in December 2024 appeared first on Direct Relief.

The shipments contained 2.3 million defined daily doses of medication and supplies, including vitamins, rare disease therapies insulin, pain management medications, and more.

Wildfires burn across california and Hurricane aftermath

Over a dozen wildfires are currently active in California, the largest of which is the Lake Fire in Santa Barbara County, which has burned over 36,000 acres. The fires come amid a record-setting heat wave, leaving vulnerable populations, especially those who are unhoused or that suffer from respiratory illnesses, exposed to potential complications due to these multiple factors.

In addition to supporting local partners in the midst of the fires, Direct Relief set up multiple distribution points throughout Santa Barbara County to make over 1,000 3M-made N95 respirators available to the local community.

Direct Relief is in touch with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and local safety net clinics to assess needs. To address power outages, Direct Relief’s Power for Health program has equipped several health clinics with solar-powered resilient power systems.

Direct Relief’s response to Hurricane Beryl is ongoing across the Caribbean and Texas. The storm, which was the earliest Category 5 storm on record, and which made landfall in Texas as a Category 1 hurricane, has left a path of destruction, especially on Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. About 1 million people in Texas are currently without power.

Direct Relief prepositioned Hurricane Prep Packs in Texas, which can serve one hundred people for 3 days. At least one of the packs was used by a clinic just north of Houston. Requested hygiene kits have also been sent to four Texas clinics.

In the Caribbean, Direct Relief has sent Hurricane Prep Packs, Emergency Packs, hygiene kits, and more requested aid, including medicines, medical tents, patient beds, and oral rehydration salts, to partners in Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Jamaica. Direct Relief has allocated $250,000 from the Caribbean Resiliency Fund to further address recovery efforts.

Operational Snapshot

WORLDWIDE

Over the last week, Direct Relief shipped more than 1.7 million defined daily doses of medication outside the U.S.

Countries that received medical aid over the past week included:

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 465 shipments containing 4.6 tons of medications during the past seven days to organizations, including the following:

YEAR TO DATE

Since January 1, 2024, Direct Relief has delivered 12,900 shipments to 1,976 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 79 countries.

These shipments contained 230.3 million defined daily doses of medication valued at $834.7 million (wholesale) and totaling over 3 million pounds.

IN THE NEWS

• How to help: Hurricane Beryl – Fidelity Charitable
• Hurricane Beryl: How to contribute to relief efforts – Local 10
• Hurricane Beryl – Discover Highly-Rate Charities – Charity Navigator
• Direct Relief to distribute free N95 masks in Santa Ynez Valley as Lake Fire grows to more than 20,000 acres – KEYT
• Want to help those who have been hit by Hurricane Beryl? Here’s what you can do – Fort Worth S-T
• Nonprofits Also Corralling Donations After Hurricane Beryl – St. Thomas Source
• Hurricane Season Just Got Real – Surfline
• Here’s How to Help the Hurricane Victims in the Caribbean – The New York Times
• Hurricane Beryl Has Devastated the Caribbean. Here’s How You Can Help Relief Efforts – TIME
• Help Hurricane Beryl Relief Efforts by Donating to These Organizations – Travel and Leisure
• How to help Hurricane Beryl victims – CNN
• Direct Relief to distribute free N95 masks in Santa Ynez Valley as Lake Fire grows to more than 20,000 acres – KEYT
• Fire concerns bring Santa Ynez Valley residents out to get free masks and view maps – KEYT
• Lake Fire Informational Resources and N95 Masks Available at Tribal Hall on Santa Ynez Reservation – Santa Barbara Independent
• Lake fire information, N95 masks available to public at Chumash tribal hall – Santa Ynez Valley News

The post Direct Relief Responds to Wildfires, Hurricanes, Everyday Needs appeared first on Direct Relief.

Grenada

In Grenada, preliminary damage assessments by the National Disaster Management Agency, the Ministry of Health, and other responding organizations found that the storm damaged or destroyed approximately 98% of structures on the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique. The Princess Royal Hospital on Carriacou experienced damage to its roof, solar panels, and hot water system.  
  
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), a Direct Relief partner, found that of 41 damaged health centers, 37 were still operational, although some were operating without electricity and relying on water trucked in by responders. 
  
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs also reported that affected areas were difficult to access because of blocked roadways, downed trees, and debris. 

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Of 49 health facilities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 38 were still operational despite having sustained damage, according to PAHO. In the Southern Grenadines, however, the organization found all health facilities unable to operate because of damage. 
  
In addition, PAHO noted that some medical refrigerators and vaccines were compromised during the storm, with potential ramifications for people of all ages. 

Jamaica

Hundreds of people still remain in emergency shelters across the nation, according to the UN Children’s Fund. Damage is widespread, with blocked roads, widespread power loss, and flooding following more than 12 hours of heavy rainfall. 

Direct Relief’s Response

Direct Relief is coordinating closely with partners in the region, including the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, PAHO, and government health ministries. The organization’s emergency response team is also participating in coordination meetings convened by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency and PAHO. 
  
In preparation for increased medical need, Direct Relief began working with partners to position supplies in the days before Hurricane Beryl’s landfall in the Caribbean. A Hurricane Preparedness Pack containing essential medicines and supplies designed to care for up to 1,000 people for 30 days, staged in St. Lucia in anticipation of hurricane season, was transported to Grenada along with three emergency medical backpacks. 
  
A second shipment of 20 cots and 20 canvas tents, from Direct Relief’s strategic stockpile in Puerto Rico, arrived on July 8. The supplies will support the Ministry of Health in its setting up emergency medical tents and providing emergency shelter on Carriacou Island. 
  
An additional Hurricane Preparedness Pack and 200 hygiene kits were dispatched from Direct Relief’s warehouse in Santa Barbara, California, on July 3. These are bound for the Ministry of Health of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Another 10 emergency medical backpacks were provided to Medical Professionals on a Mission, a rapid response team of health care providers who work to support the emergency health and humanitarian needs of Caribbean communities.  
  
Further shipments of medical replenishment and requested emergency medical aid are currently being prepared. 
  
In addition, Direct Relief is consulting with partners in the region to determine what medications, supplies, and equipment are most needed, and how the organization can best support response and recovery efforts. 
  
Finally, in Mexico and the US — where Beryl also made destructive landfalls — Direct Relief maintains strategically placed stockpiles of emergency medical supplies, each designed to provide medical support during or after a natural disaster. The organization is coordinating closely with governmental and safety net partners to keep track of impacts to health and medical needs.  
  
A number of shipments that include an Emergency Health Kit, emergency medical backpacks, hygiene kits, and other medical essentials have departed Direct Relief headquarters or are currently being prepared for safety net providers in Texas. 

The post Damaged Clinics, No Running Water, Compromised Vaccines: Hurricane Beryl’s Impacts on Health Care Are Widely Felt  appeared first on Direct Relief.

The shipments contained 5.1 million defined daily doses of medication and supplies, including vitamins, rare disease therapies insulin, pain management medications, and more.

Hurricane Beryl Response Continues

While Beryl has weakened, it still poses a serious threat to southern Texas and Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, where it made landfall on Friday morning.

With winds reaching as high as 105 miles per hour, the storm threatens as much as 10 inches of rain and surging waters in parts of Mexico, and will likely reach as far as Texas’s Gulf Coast.

Hurricane warnings are in place in communities along the Yucatán Peninsula’s coastline. Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador has urged those in the storm’s path to seek shelter, reminding them that “the most important thing is life.”

Opposite from Beryl’s path in the Caribbean, Mexico’s Pacific coast is still recovering from last year’s Hurricane Otis, a rare Category 5 storm that devastated the Acapulco area. Standing water and warm temperatures have created breeding ground for mosquitoes, contributing to increased dengue fever cases.

As the region assesses needs, Direct Relief is working with the federal health secretariat’s emergency response team (COPAC) as well as the National Defense Secretariat (SEDENA) and is in close communication with both agencies to mobilize support if it is needed and requested.

Direct Relief has a stockpile of emergency medical backpacks and emergency health kits filled with emergency essentials commonly requested by first responders and has recently continued its support in the country after last year’s devastating Hurricane Otis in Acapulco.

Texas’s southern coast, now within the hurricane’s forecast cone, is also bracing for impact. Beryl will most likely make landfall there on Saturday. Direct Relief is in communication with healthcare organizations in the state on any needs that arise, and Direct Relief’s hurricane preparedness packs, a vital aspect of the organization’s hurricane resiliency and response work, are already stationed at strategic locations in the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Over the past week, Direct Relief has shipped medical aid to Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Lucia in response to medical needs in communities directly impacted by the storm.

The organization will continue to monitor Beryl’s impact in order to assess health and emergency needs on the ground, and is prepared to respond as needed.

Operational Snapshot

WORLDWIDE

Over the last week, Direct Relief shipped more than 3.7 million defined daily doses of medication outside the U.S.

Countries that received medical aid over the past week included:

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 310 shipments containing over three tons of medications during the past seven days to organizations, including the following:

YEAR TO DATE

Since January 1, 2024, Direct Relief has delivered 12,400 shipments to 1,933 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 78 countries.

These shipments contained 228.4 million defined daily doses of medication totaling 3.2 million lbs.

IN THE NEWS

• Here’s How to Help the Hurricane Victims in the Caribbean – The New York Times
• Hurricane Beryl Has Devastated the Caribbean. Here’s How You Can Help Relief Efforts – TIME
• Help Hurricane Beryl Relief Efforts by Donating to These Organizations – Travel and Leisure
• How to help Hurricane Beryl victims – CNN

The post Response Continues for Communities in Beryl’s Path appeared first on Direct Relief.

For medical treatment purposes as well as temporary shelter, Direct Relief is working with St. Vincent’s Ministry of Health, OECS, and the National Emergency Management Organization to send a shipment of tents and cots currently stored at the NGO’s Puerto Rico warehouse. These will be sent to Carriacou and Union Island to support their emergency response work.
 
A rapid response team of medical professionals called Medical Professionals on a Mission (MPOM) is preparing to deploy to affected areas. MPOM, a Direct Relief partner, will receive 10 emergency medical backpacks to support their on-the-ground response. In addition, 30 emergency medical backpacks intended for OECS have already arrived at the port in St. Lucia.
 
Beryl is likely to be an active storm for several days. Although it may weaken somewhat, it is still predicted to hit Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula late Thursday or early Friday, potentially causing further impacts there. Mexico just experienced a short-lived event, Tropical Storm Chris, which made landfall on Sunday night.
 
Another tropical disturbance is currently forming in the Atlantic between the continent of Africa and the southeastern Caribbean. Although it is still considered unlikely that the disturbance will form a full-fledged tropical storm or depression, concern over the potential event has increased because it would follow Hurricane Beryl so closely.
 
Direct Relief maintains an active presence and close partnerships in the Caribbean. The organization has active Memorandums of Understanding with OECS and the Pan American Health Organization and works with a number of local governments and nonprofit groups to improve health and resilience throughout the region.

Working closely with regional partners, Direct Relief will continue to monitor and assess needs on the ground and is prepared to respond as more information emerges.

The post Response Underway As Hurricane Beryl Cuts a Devastating Path Across Caribbean appeared first on Direct Relief.

Hurricane Beryl, notable for being the strongest tropical storm ever to pass through the region so early in the Atlantic season, lashed the Windward Islands in the southeast Caribbean with winds up to 150 miles an hour.

Concern about Beryl began several days ago as the storm began to gather strength over the Atlantic Ocean. Although it briefly weakened Monday morning to Category 3, the storm is now considered a highly dangerous Category 4 hurricane. Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Tobago were under hurricane warnings, and Martinique, St. Lucia, and Trinidad were each issued a tropical storm warning.

Beryl is expected to produce forceful winds lasting throughout Monday, and heavy rainfall and storm surge — often even more dangerous than hurricane winds — will also cause significant impacts in the region.

Direct Relief Responds

In anticipation of meeting medical and health needs on the ground, Direct Relief has already reached out to partners across the region, including the Barbados Ministry of Health, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Food Programme, and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, along with a number of local partners.

The organization has active Memorandums of Understanding in place with OECS and PAHO, so that support can be provided quickly and efficiently in response to a disaster. In addition, an emergency shipment for St. Vincent is packed and staff are preparing it for dispatch.

A Direct Relief-funded team of emergency responders with close local ties, the Caribbean Rapid Response Team, is preparing for deployment.

And, in preparation for events like Hurricane Beryl, Direct Relief has already staged caches of commonly needed medications and supplies — called Hurricane Preparedness Packs — throughout this area of the Caribbean as well as the larger region. Regional stockpiles are ready in St. Lucia, Barbados, Puerto Rico, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Dominica.

But Luis David Rodriguez, a Direct Relief program manager specializing in the Caribbean and emergency response, said these preparations are only the beginning.

“It’s still too early to know, since Hurricane Beryl is just making landfall in parts of the Windward Islands,” he said. “We will have a better understanding of the impact and needs later in the day as the storm passes through.”

The post Direct Relief Responds as Hurricane Beryl Impacts the Caribbean. The Region, Watchful and Ready, Will Weather the Storm Today. appeared first on Direct Relief.

A leader in providing medical humanitarian aid to those in need, Direct Relief is ranked fifth on the Forbes List of Top 100 Charities and earned a renewed four-star rating from Charity Navigator in 2024, America’s largest independent charity evaluator, for the 13th consecutive year.

“Direct Relief is excited to welcome these accomplished individuals to its board,” said Mark Linehan, Direct Relief’s Board Chair. “The expertise that each brings will strengthen and further the organization’s mission of mobilizing essential medical and other resources across the U.S. and around the world.”

The new directors are:

Henrietta Holsman Fore recently served as the seventh Executive Director of UNICEF. Prior to taking up this appointment, she served as both the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance in the U.S. State Department. From 2005 to 2007, Ms. Fore served as Under Secretary of State for Management, the Chief Operating Officer for the U.S. Department of State. Prior to that, she was the 37th Director of the United States Mint, a position she held from 2001 to 2005.  Currently Ms. Fore serves as the Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Holsman International, a manufacturing and investment company.

Heitham Hassoun, MD, serves as the Chief Executive of International at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, California. In this role, he leads the institution’s international patient services as well as global strategy and operations. He joined Cedars-Sinai in 2018 as vice president and medical director of International. He is a highly regarded clinician and healthcare leader with a wealth of experience in global partnerships, international patient services, health system development, and academic medicine.  Dr. Hassoun shepherded Cedars-Sinai’s first global affiliation as well as several academic and strategic collaborations in China, Ecuador, Indonesia, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. He also has overseen the expansion of Cedars-Sinai’s regional offices in multiple countries, including China, Mexico, and Singapore. In addition to leading International, Dr. Hassoun is a professor of Surgery at Cedars-Sinai and maintains a clinical practice in vascular and endovascular surgery. Prior to Cedars-Sinai, Dr. Hassoun served as global medical director at Johns Hopkins Medicine and as an associate professor in the Department of Surgery at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Perry Siatis is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at AbbVie, a global biopharmaceutical company, where he is responsible for Legal and the Office of Ethics and Compliance. He is credited with negotiating highly successful global business deals, navigating complex government policy, and providing strategic legal guidance for multiple billion-dollar brands. Mr. Siatis began his career by practicing commercial and intellectual property (IP) litigation at DLA Piper LLP. He joined Abbott in 2005 as Counsel and progressed to Division Counsel, IP Litigation, and later became Divisional Vice President and Section Head, IP Strategy. In January 2013, Mr. Siatis joined AbbVie where he served as Vice President, Biologic Strategic Development and Legal Regulatory. He also served as the Senior Vice President of Legal Transactions and R&D/Alliance Management and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer. In 2020, he led the legal strategy for the acquisition of Allergan, one of the largest acquisitions in pharmaceutical history.

The Direct Relief Board of Directors may serve up to three three-year terms.

A full list of Direct Relief’s Board and leadership is available here.

The post Direct Relief Announces Appointment of Three Directors to Board appeared first on Direct Relief.

The post New Mexico Fires and Gulf Coast Flooding Highlight an Active Disaster Season  appeared first on Direct Relief.

This video delves into the aftermath of the attack, highlighting the resilience of the Asian community and the unifying power of music in overcoming trauma and in the fight against hate.

Featuring advocates such as Helen Zia, journalist and founder of the Vincent Chin Institute, and through personal stories, community responses, and the production of “Silent Theater”—a musical piece born out of defiance and hope—the video underscores the enduring fight against racism and the importance of speaking up and standing together.

These efforts received significant support from Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity, which addresses disparities in health outcomes by backing community-led efforts to overcome systemic barriers to well-being.

Funding from Direct Relief was vital in helping the Vincent Chin Institute establish a network to respond rapidly to hate incidents across America, focusing on assisting Asian American and Pacific Islander populations in regions with little or no support. It also helped fund the “Hope Not Hate” event and facilitated community outreach and resilience-building activities.

Since launching the Fund for Health Equity in 2021, Direct Relief has granted more than $50 million to more than 150 organizations across the U.S.

The post Health Equity: Overcoming Trauma & Anti-Asian Hate in the U.S. (Video) appeared first on Direct Relief.

Serving a diverse population of 50,000, 93 percent of which are Asian and Pacific Islander, Kōkua Kalihi Valley is redefining health by fostering deep-rooted connections within the community. It is the nation’s only community health center to have a 100-acre nature preserve

This video showcases how reforestation efforts on one hundred acres of land are helping residents reconnect with their roots and traditions. It also highlights the critical role of traditional food and medicine in promoting well-being.

Supported by Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity, which has granted over $50 million to more than 150 organizations across the U.S. since 2021, Kōkua Kalihi Valley exemplifies the crucial importance of health equity and the ongoing cultural revitalization in Hawaiʻi.

Directed, produced, and edited by Oliver Riley-Smith with cinematography by William Jobe. Featuring Dr. David Derauf, Puni Jackson, May-Lynn Phillip, Pearl Sheck, with special thanks to Kōkua Kalihi Valley, Lalo Kalahele, and Sunny Chen.

The post Health Equity: Revitalizing Health and Culture in Hawaiʻi (Video) appeared first on Direct Relief.

When the grid goes down, Footprint Project sources and sustainably implements the setup of mobile solar microgrids to bring emergency power to Direct Relief’s network of community health clinics. Through this collaboration, Footprint Project serves as the rapid response arm to Direct Relief’s Power for Health Initiative, which supports the installation of off-grid, renewable, reliable power systems for critical health services in vulnerable communities.

“Direct Relief’s humanitarian health and emergency response activities have made it unmistakably clear that power losses compound the health consequences for people in emergency settings due to spoiled medication, inaccessibility of medical records, and often the complete shutdown of health services when people need them most,” said Thomas Tighe, President and CEO of Direct Relief. “Footprint Project is addressing in such a thoughtful way the huge, recurring, and growing problem of power losses in emergency situations.”

The strategic alliance between Direct Relief and Footprint Project enables both organizations to support critical healthcare infrastructure through both blue and gray skies. This is the second consecutive year that Direct Relief has donated $250,000 to Footprint Project.

“As climate change increases the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, it’s imperative that we transition disaster response and recovery operations off fossil fuels,” said Will Heegaard, Operations Director at Footprint Project. “We are grateful for Direct Relief’s partnership and innovative leadership in renewable response and community resilience.”

Footprint Project currently has a fleet of 80+ mobile solar assets across the U.S. and Puerto Rico and has been developing, assembling, testing, and deploying cleaner energy infrastructure since 2018.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts with 70% confidence there will be 8-13 hurricanes during the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season, including 4-7 major hurricanes (Categories 3-5). The pre-positioned aid from Direct Relief enables both organizations to respond proactively rather than on the heels of a crisis.

The post Ahead of Disaster Season, Direct Relief Commits $250,000 to Footprint Project to Power Critical Health Services appeared first on Direct Relief.

The latest 4.5-ton shipment of requested medical aid, including IV fluids, wound care products, personal protective equipment, anti-infective agents, and thermometers, arrived in Gaza on May 26 through the Kerem Shalom crossing between northern Gaza and southern Israel. 

Anera, a key regional partner of Direct Relief, received the supplies, some of which are used by its own mobile medical unit that provides primary care services directly and the remainder being distributed to healthcare professionals in Gaza caring for people in dire need.

This week’s delivery follows a large Direct Relief shipment of prenatal vitamins, breast pumps for nursing, and personal care items such as feminine hygiene products for around 50,000 people in Gaza displaced from their homes. The personal care items were kitted at Direct Relief’s Santa Barbara headquarters by local volunteers over several days.

These supplies, coupled with financial assistance from Direct Relief, have supported a series of Anera-operated mobile clinics throughout Gaza that provide comprehensive services—including primary, maternal, pediatric, and mental health care—to as many as 1,000 people per day in Deir al-Balah and Rafah.

Over the past 8 months, Direct Relief has delivered into Gaza approximately 70 tons of medical aid, valued at more than $26 million (wholesale), including cancer treatment therapies, diabetes medications and supplies, cardiac medications, syringes, sutures and wound care items, water purification tablets, oral rehydration salts, and more.  

Direct Relief, an apolitical, non-sectarian, and nongovernmental humanitarian aid organization, is committed to responding to ongoing health needs and requests for support across the region.

Additional medical essentials have been delivered to and being staged in Jordan, with more en route. Deliveries from Jordan into Gaza will be made as the shifting security and logistics channels permit.

All Direct Relief shipments to Gaza and elsewhere in the region are the result of extensive coordination with various national governments, international agencies, and on-the-ground organizations, and will continue to be delivered in accordance with U.S. sanctions laws and necessary approvals from Israeli, Egyptian, Jordanian, and other relevant authorities. 

The post Direct Relief Delivers Humanitarian Aid into Gaza  appeared first on Direct Relief.

These events are part of a larger cluster of extreme weather events across the U.S. that have marked the first half of 2024. Tornadoes, hail, heavy rain, and thunder have hit numerous communities in the Midwest and South. 

In response to the most recent batch of storms, Direct Relief has contacted Southern primary care associations and local partners to offer support. An emergency shipment is being shipped to Shades of Blue, a Houston-based partner focused on maternal and mental health needs. 

Medical needs are most commonly determined in the weeks following an extreme weather event when the full scale of the damage and required support becomes clear, rather than its immediate aftermath. Direct Relief will continue to communicate with local organizations and remain ready to meet health needs on the ground. 

Past extreme weather events have taught that interruptions to care are particularly dangerous. People living with chronic diseases like hypertension, asthma, and diabetes often lose or are forced to evacuate without their lifesaving medications, and can end up experiencing a deadly medical crisis if these conditions go untreated. 

For these reasons, Direct Relief keeps a cache of essential medications often requested after disasters, as well as personal care items often requested for people displaced from their homes. These medications and supplies are routinely offered to on-the-ground partners responding to or affected by natural disasters and other crises. 

Direct Relief also committed $250,000 to support healthcare needs in Texas’s Harris County area last week and provided medical aid after deadly tornadoes struck the Midwest last month. 

The post Extreme Weather Batters the U.S. Midwest and South  appeared first on Direct Relief.

Direct Relief’s Response 

In response to the deadly landslide, Direct Relief is working with the Enga Provincial Health Authority and an on-the-ground partner, Hope Worldwide, to assess and determine medical needs on the ground.  
 
Direct Relief is also mobilizing an initial two emergency response shipments to the East Sepik Provincial Health Authority in the north, in response to an earlier earthquake and repeated flooding attempts. The shipments contain emergency medical backpacks, a cholera kit, an emergency health kit, water filters, and a range of requested essential medications. 

Medical Care for Displaced Populations 

Gordon Willcock, an emergency response regional director at Direct Relief, explained that in disasters like this, the most widespread medical needs do not come from injuries directly connected to the event, but from chronic and acute diseases.  
 
Adding to the complexity of the situation is the physical instability of the area. More landslides are feared, and the disaster zone, part of the densely populated Enga Province, is difficult to reach because of a blocked main road. This instability and inaccessibility make it especially difficult to gather information on the dead — or on those affected by the conflict. Approximately 1,650 people are displaced, and many are reluctant to leave for safer ground because their loved ones are under the rubble, although there is little hope of finding more survivors at this point. 
 
“These events are really about evacuees and displaced people,” Willcock said. The biggest threats to health in similar disasters have come from interruptions to primary and chronic health care, from a lack of hygiene and access to clean water caused by displacement and contamination of water supplies, and from nutritional needs. Contagious diseases are also a concern whenever people shelter in close quarters. 

Compounding Health Risks

Although Papua New Guinea is a middle-income country, about 40% of the population lives below the extreme poverty line, as income inequality is widespread. The country is confronting a high burden of infectious diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. Chronic disease and high maternal mortality rates are serious concerns. 
  
The Pacific nation is also prone to disasters, many of them connected to climate change. Storms, floods, earthquakes, and droughts have all left their mark on Papua New Guinea, and earthquakes and volcanic activity pose repeated threats. 
  
Adding to concerns in the region is the ongoing presence of tribal disputes over land and other resources. New outbreaks of violence killed 49 people in February. A series of riots in January killed 20 people and led to greater economic instability. 

Looking Forward 

Direct Relief has an established record of supporting local health providers in Papua New Guinea, having provided prenatal vitamins, IV administration equipment, chronic disease and mental health medications, and more to Papua New Guinea in 2023. 
 
Direct Relief emergency response staff expect to have a clearer picture of the medical need in the coming days, and plan to allocate support accordingly. 

The post A Devastating Landslide Leaves Death and Instability in Its Wake. Direct Relief Responds.  appeared first on Direct Relief.

As part of the joint initiative, 3M has pledged to meet Direct Relief’s entire forecasted annual need for N95 filtering facepiece respirators with a donation of 5 million units. These respirators will be utilized in Direct Relief’s global humanitarian response efforts, providing essential protection to individuals in affected regions.

N95 respirators approved by NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) can be used to help protect individuals within disaster-stricken areas. They help mitigate particulate smoke exposure during wildfires and offer assistance amid clean-up activities after floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Consequently, N95s constitute a cornerstone of Direct Relief’s disaster response framework.

Serving as the Official Respiratory Protection Sponsor, 3M’s N95s will be pre-stocked and strategically positioned to expedite relief operations to impacted communities, minimizing transit time. They will feature prominently within Direct Relief’s strategic emergency stockpile (SES), encompassing wildfire kits, emergency medical backpacks, hurricane preparedness packs, cholera kits, and an extensive network of U.S. safety net clinics.

This significant new partnership between 3M and Direct Relief emerged out of an over 20-year relationship with 3M products and cash supporting Direct Relief’s global relief, recovery, and resilience efforts including responding to various emergencies worldwide, including the Turkey earthquake, Ukraine conflict, Mozambique floods, Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, and hurricanes and severe weather events across the US. 

“Direct Relief is deeply thankful and privileged to work with 3M on this historic donation that will protect frontline health and emergency responders during disasters,” said Thomas Tighe, CEO and President of Direct Relief. “During disasters that are ongoing, 3M has led by example, stepping up to help protect first responders, health workers, and those at risk, and is once again providing high-quality protective equipment for people enduring fires, earthquakes, and other disasters and crises.” 

This initiative reinforces 3M’s unwavering dedication to supporting communities in need and builds on its long-term commitment to humanitarian relief efforts. Since 2016, 3M has contributed nearly 10 million N95 respirators and other requested products to Direct Relief for individuals in the United States and more than 80 countries. 

“3M is proud to continue our partnership with Direct Relief to expand access to critical protective equipment for natural disaster preparedness,” said Chris Goralski, president of 3M Safety and Industrial. “Access to N95 respirators can make a real difference in the health and safety of first responders and others providing care and support during crises. We will work together with Direct Relief to ensure these essential supplies reach the communities that need them most.”

The post 3M Named Official Respiratory Protection Sponsor for Direct Relief, Pledges 5 Million N95 Respirators Ahead of Hurricane, Wildfire Season  appeared first on Direct Relief.

The confluence of events over the past year has created significant health challenges and risks for the people of Acapulco and the surrounding Guerrero state. In October 2023, Guerrero was battered by Hurricane Otis, the strongest storm recorded to make landfall in the Eastern Pacific, leaving at least 52 people dead and 32 others missing. Guerrero has since seen a surge in cases of the mosquito-borne illness dengue fever, reporting more cases than any other Mexican state.

The past few months have been hot and dry, leaving firefighters struggling to get wildfires under control. Meanwhile, the 2024 hurricane season is fast approaching, officially beginning in June, and weather forecasters point to climate conditions and unusually high ocean temperatures to predict an exceptionally high number of hurricanes this year.

The donation is Direct Relief’s largest single action and disaster response in Mexico since the organization established a Mexican unit as a Civil Association in 2014.

Supplies for Fighting Dengue Fever’s Spread and Medical Consequences

Dengue fever is surging across South and Central America and the Caribbean, with reported cases up 206% over 2023, according to the Pan American Health Organization.

Direct Relief is providing equipment and supplies both to stem the spread of dengue and to ease the suffering of those who catch a disease so painful that it is also known as break-bone fever.

In response to a request from Guerrero’s Secretariat of Health, Direct Relief is donating thermal fogging equipment and insecticide to spray in identified hot spots for mosquito breeding. The aim is to reduce the mosquito population before summer rains bring the standing water where the insects breed.

Direct Relief is also donating 1.5 metric tons of medical supplies to help limit the spread of dengue and to reduce fever, dehydration, and pain among people who have contracted it. The supplies include mosquito-repellent wipes and spray, oral rehydration salts, acetaminophen for adults and children, and thermometers. There is no medicine for curing dengue, but palliative care can provide some relief from symptoms while the body fights off the infection.

The medical supplies are being donated to Guerrero’s Centro Regulador de Urgencias Médicas (CRUM), where they will join the strategic reserve for emergency and disaster response both in the State of Guerrero and for aid to other Mexican states. In the aftermath of Hurricane Otis, other states came to Guerrero’s aid with ambulances, paramedics, doctors, mobile medical units, and more.

Rebuilding Pharmaceutical Cold-Chain Damaged by Hurricane Otis, and Preparing for 2024 Hurricanes

Hurricane Otis wreaked significant damage at health centers in and around Acapulco. Direct Relief is delivering 10 pharmaceutical refrigerators to replace equipment destroyed by Hurricane Otis, along with two ultra-low-temperature freezers needed for certain medicines and vaccines.

Increasingly, new vaccines and medications for cancer, genetic diseases, diabetes, and other medical conditions require consistent cold temperatures from the point of manufacture until dispensed to a patient. Communities that lack the infrastructure, power, and systems required to handle such medications properly often go without these therapies. Direct Relief improves cold chain infrastructure in low-resource communities by providing cash grants, donations of refrigeration equipment and expertise.

Medicine and Medical Supplies

Direct Relief is also donating 156 fully stocked emergency medical backpacks to equip Guerrero’s fire and emergency services teams, which are currently tackling wildfires but now must prepare for hurricane response. Each backpack contains supplies and equipment to meet disaster-related health needs, including infection control, diagnostics, trauma care, and PPE.

The post Direct Relief Boosts Support in Mexico to Address Spike in Dengue Fever appeared first on Direct Relief.

The organization has also opened up access to its inventory of emergency medicines for needs arising from the storms. Direct Relief has shipped and continues to mobilize medical aid for local organizations, including VCare Clinics, and the United Community Foundation, which have requested emergency support, including chronic disease medications and diabetes supplies, and another request of personal care kits, containing hygiene items including soap and shampoo, for people displaced by the storms.

In the wake of a disaster, healthcare organizations most frequently make requests for medical aid in the days and weeks after the most immediate threat has subsided, once it becomes possible to accurately evaluate local medical needs. For that reason, Direct Relief will continue to communicate with organizations on the ground and make its extensive medical inventory available to regional healthcare providers.

Harris County, which includes Houston, is located on the U.S. Gulf Coast. Climate change has hit the area especially hard, with hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and fierce heat waves all increasing in frequency and intensity. In the wake of a storm or other natural disaster, continuity of care is often disrupted, making it difficult for people who need medication and supplies to manage chronic health conditions.

If conditions like diabetes and hypertension are left unmanaged, they can quickly become life-threatening, which is particularly dangerous when emergency resources are taxed.

While death counts generally only include fatalities directly connected to the storms, indirect deaths are a real and widespread concern. On Monday, more than 180,000 customers were without power in Harris County, and large-scale power outages can create their own health risks and add another layer of complexity to emergency response. Lack of access to power can harm people who rely on medical devices, rendering home supplies of insulin unusable, and exacerbating existing health issues as people struggle with the relentless heat.

Direct Relief will continue to closely monitor the health situation in Harris County and beyond to provide support as requested.

The post Texas Storm Response: Direct Relief Mobilizes Medical Aid, Commits $250,000 in Emergency Funding appeared first on Direct Relief.

The shipments contained 11.2 million defined daily doses of medication and supplies, including insulin, prenatal vitamins, cardiovascular medications, and more.

Families Receive Medication in Iraqi Kurdistan

Iraqi Kurdistan, the Kurdish-populated part of northern Iraq, is home to over 1 million refugees and internally displaced people, or IDPs, following a genocidal ISIS campaign of the Yazidi ethnic minority group from 2014 to 2017. Public support to the IDP camps has dwindled or even formally terminated, and those living in the camps are now being told to return home to areas that remain hostile and unsafe.

Over the past 18 months, the region has seen a near-total withdrawal of foreign assistance. The result has been the suspension or deterioration of public services, economic and political volatility, and impending camp closures, compounding a humanitarian crisis for some of the most acutely marginalized groups in the region.

Medication shortages are also a challenge in the region, and Direct Relief has continued to serve as a medical supply stopgap through its support of the regional public health authority, the Duhok Directorate of Health. or DOH. In total, Direct Relief has mobilized 27 tons of medical aid worth over $86 million, including emergency prep and response products, medications for pediatric patients, cancer medication, and insulin.

IOM Egypt Receives Field Medic Packs

Recently, the International Organization for Migration, Egypt, provided 100 field medic packs to the Egyptian Ambulance Organization. Originally donated by Direct Relief, each backpack contains supplies and equipment to meet a variety of prevalent emergency-related medical issues, including infection control, diagnostics, trauma care, and personal protection tools.

A branch of the Egyptian Ministry of Health, the Egyptian Ambulance Organization operates a fleet of over 2,000 ambulances in Egypt, with many stationed at border crossing points providing emergency medical transport to people fleeing the conflicts in Gaza and Sudan.

Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai Shares about Breast Cancer Work in Ghana

Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, Ghanaian breast cancer surgeon and president of Breast Care International, or BCI, visited Direct Relief headquarters along with her family this week. BCI, an NGO dedicated to breast cancer prevention and control in Ghana, is a long-time partner of Direct Relief, receiving $95.2 million in donated medical products since 2014.

Dr. Addai shared that, in Ghana, 60 to 70 percent of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are already in advanced stages of the disease, due to the stigma and lack of education and awareness about the disease. Since its founding in 2002, BCI has taken a multifaceted approach to fighting breast cancer: educating women, facilitating needed medications from donors like Direct Relief to a network of health centers, and empowering survivors to share their stories.

Operational Snapshot

WORLDWIDE

Over the last week, Direct Relief shipped more than 3.8 million defined daily doses of medication outside the U.S.

Countries that received medical aid over the past week included:

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 491 shipments containing over eight tons of medications during the past seven days to organizations, including the following:

YEAR TO DATE

Since January 1, 2024, Direct Relief has delivered 8,881 shipments to 1,634 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 71 countries.

These shipments contained 161.2 million defined daily doses of medication totaling 2.6 million lbs.

The post Medical Aid Arrives in Iraqi Kurdistan, Egypt, and More appeared first on Direct Relief.

The signing ceremony, held in Brunei, was part of the 44th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management and the 20th Meeting of the Governing Board of the AHA Center, which brought together the heads of the national disaster management agencies of all 10 ASEAN member states.

ASEAN, which stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

. ASEAN member countries combined have a population of 640 million people, and these 10 countries sit on or near the “Ring of Fire,” the zone around the Pacific Ocean that is prone to natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Direct Relief CEO and President Thomas Tighe and the Executive Director of the AHA Center, Lee Yam Ming, signed the memorandum of intent, which renews the longstanding strategic partnership between the two organizations, first signed in 2016.

“The partnership between the AHA Center and Direct Relief will bolster the facility’s response capacity in the ASEAN region,” said Lee Yam Ming, Executive Director of the AHA Center. “Through this partnership, we continuously expand and broaden our collaboration in preparedness, response, and recovery initiatives. The AHA Center is looking forward to working together with Direct Relief in realizing ASEAN as a disaster-resilient region.”

“Because of the region’s risk exposure to natural disasters, including some of the most intense earthquakes and tsunamis on record, Direct Relief stands ready to respond in coordination with the AHA Center at a moment’s notice,” said Thomas Tighe, Direct Relief CEO and President. “Today’s event signifies Direct Relief’s commitment to building on the past eight years of cooperation with the AHA Center, as well as a vision of future support in the region to help those most impacted by disasters and crises.”

Since 2008, Direct Relief has delivered more than $387 million in medical materials across ASEAN member states. Since the 2016 signing, Direct Relief has also provided $1.187 million in grant funding for the procurement and prepositioning of emergency supplies, for the reconstruction of health infrastructure, for capacity building, for AHA regional training, and for various other AHA-led programs.

In addition to regular donations of medicines and medical supplies, Direct Relief has mobilized and launched major organizational responses to disasters in the region, including the Indian Ocean Tsunami (Indonesia, 2004), Cyclone Nargis (Myanmar, 2008), Typhoon Haiyan (The Philippines, 2013), Sulawesi and Lombok earthquakes (Indonesia, 2018) and Covid-19 pandemic response throughout Southeast Asia.

Direct Relief and the AHA Center have also coordinated emergency preparedness efforts, including the pre-positioning of emergency medical supplies at ASEAN disaster supply warehouses in Malaysia and the Philippines, joint participation in emergency response exercises and policy dialogues, funding for AHA-led initiatives, information sharing, data analysis, mapping, and collaboration during large-scale emergency response operations in Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos.

The post Direct Relief Renews Commitment to ASEAN Region, Building on Strength of Past Partnership appeared first on Direct Relief.

In Sulphur, Okla., a small town about 80 miles south of Oklahoma City, which sustained casualties, temporary shelters have been set up for those displaced by the storms. Local media also reported widespread damage to buildings, houses and a hospital in Marietta, Okla., which also saw casualties and endured an EF-4-rated tornado. This is the first EF-4 tornado, a classification which records wind gusts between 166 to 200 miles per hour, to hit the state since 2016, according to the National Weather Service.

Severe weather often impacts health outcomes long-term, especially for vulnerable communities such as those with chronic conditions, the young and elderly, and those without access to reliable transportation. This can occur due to interruptions in health care as a result of damage to a local facility, power outages, and other stresses that occur in the wake of a storm, such as a loss of housing.

Direct Relief has issued offers of support to health facilities, including community health centers and free and charitable clinics in Nebraska, Iowa, and Oklahoma, and will respond to requests as needed. Based on learnings from past severe weather events, Direct Relief maintains an inventory of chronic disease medications often requested after disasters, including therapies for diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma.

People who evacuate without a supply of medications needed to maintain their health can end up in the emergency room in medical crisis. The organization also maintains inventory for people displaced from their homes and living in shelter environments, including personal care kits that contain soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, and more.

These kits, which were shipped earlier this month to a clinic in Slidell, La. after tornadoes struck there, have been made available to partner clinics in the Midwest in addition to all available inventory should it be requested.

Direct Relief will continue to respond as requests become known.

The post After Deadly Tornadoes Hit U.S. Midwest, Direct Relief Offers Support appeared first on Direct Relief.