×

News publications and other organizations are encouraged to reuse Direct Relief-published content for free under a Creative Commons License (Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International), given the republisher complies with the requirements identified below.

When republishing:

  • Include a byline with the reporter’s name and Direct Relief in the following format: "Author Name, Direct Relief." If attribution in that format is not possible, include the following language at the top of the story: "This story was originally published by Direct Relief."
  • If publishing online, please link to the original URL of the story.
  • Maintain any tagline at the bottom of the story.
  • With Direct Relief's permission, news publications can make changes such as localizing the content for a particular area, using a different headline, or shortening story text. To confirm edits are acceptable, please check with Direct Relief by clicking this link.
  • If new content is added to the original story — for example, a comment from a local official — a note with language to the effect of the following must be included: "Additional reporting by [reporter and organization]."
  • If republished stories are shared on social media, Direct Relief appreciates being tagged in the posts:
    • Twitter (@DirectRelief)
    • Facebook (@DirectRelief)
    • Instagram (@DirectRelief)

Republishing Images:

Unless stated otherwise, images shot by Direct Relief may be republished for non-commercial purposes with proper attribution, given the republisher complies with the requirements identified below.

  • Maintain correct caption information.
  • Credit the photographer and Direct Relief in the caption. For example: "First and Last Name / Direct Relief."
  • Do not digitally alter images.

Direct Relief often contracts with freelance photographers who usually, but not always, allow their work to be published by Direct Relief’s media partners. Contact Direct Relief for permission to use images in which Direct Relief is not credited in the caption by clicking here.

Other Requirements:

  • Do not state or imply that donations to any third-party organization support Direct Relief's work.
  • Republishers may not sell Direct Relief's content.
  • Direct Relief's work is prohibited from populating web pages designed to improve rankings on search engines or solely to gain revenue from network-based advertisements.
  • Advance permission is required to translate Direct Relief's stories into a language different from the original language of publication. To inquire, contact us here.
  • If Direct Relief requests a change to or removal of republished Direct Relief content from a site or on-air, the republisher must comply.

For any additional questions about republishing Direct Relief content, please email the team here.

Direct Relief Partner One Heart Reports from Tibet

News

By Jenny Hutain

Arlene Samen, the founder and CEO of One Heart World-Wide, is in Tibet responding to the recent earthquake, supported by funds from Direct Relief. One Heart’s medical team has been working in Tibet for several years and plans to open a special maternal and child health clinic there.

“We arrived late Saturday night and spent most of Sunday meeting with local Tibetan nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that have either been out to the field or have team members who have gone out to Yushu. Right now it is a bit chaotic and anyone who does not have a permit cannot go to Yushu as the roads are so backed up with trucks taking supplies. The military is on the ground setting up tent cities and either trucking in supplies or flying in cargo shipments of what is needed. There have been several hundred victims flown out to local hospitals either in Xining, where we are, or to Chengdu. We have heard that over 1,500 people have died and hundreds are still missing. Hundreds of monks arrived on the scene and have been involved with digging people out of the collapsed buildings, handing out supplies, or helping to dispose of the bodies.

We met with several local NGOs who can receive funds; they have formed an organization to coordinate donations and distribution of supplies. A representative from USAID is coming tomorrow to meet with NGOs and the Civil Affairs Office to see about donating funds to buy basic supplies. Funding is needed the most to help people with immediate needs (food, shelter, water, blankets, solar generators, water purification, cooking utensils, headlamps, medicine). Long term, the entire town will have to be rebuilt. Many of the doctors died in the earthquake and medical teams are flying in to take care of the injuries that were not life-threatening.

We went to one of the hospitals today and met with several of the Tibetan families who had been rescued. Several women went into labor and were evacuated to Xining and gave birth, most of them lost everyone in their family, yet were so grateful to be alive. Everywhere in the hospital we saw families tending to the needs of their family members who were injured. I will find out later who can organize helping the families here in Xining. Everyone is homeless. There are many heartbreaking stories. The courage of the Tibetan people truly inspires me as they come together under such horrific circumstances. The hotel where we are staying has been filled with Chinese relief workers who are leaving in shifts with semi trucks filled with supplies.

It looks like we will be able to start our maternal-child health (MCH) project in the next couple of months. Once we get the project started we would like to be involved with setting up a MCH training center in Yushu. Most of the hospitals either collapsed or are badly damaged. At this time the government will have to rebuild everything. Literally, there are no undamaged structures left. I feel helpless in this moment and feel the best I can do is to help convey the message of what is needed. Our prayers and long-term support will help the Tibetans to rebuild their lives in this very fragile environment. So many people are traumatized; their faith keeps them strong.

With one heart and many hands,

Arlene”

Giving is Good Medicine

You don't have to donate. That's why it's so extraordinary if you do.