In response to the growing Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon, Direct Relief is providing critically needed medical goods. With support from corporate donors, Direct Relief prepared an emergency shipment to be air-freighted today directly to long-term partner American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA) for distribution to clinics and hospitals in refugee camps.

Working together, Direct Relief and ANERA have identified the most essential medicines and supplies, over 700 lbs. of sutures, syringes, hypertensives, surgical scrub, bandages, and other personal care products (valued at over $645,000) provided by Covidien. At least one full, 40-foot ocean container of hospital beds, sodium chloride, wound dressings, and other medical material will follow and should arrive Saturday.

Since the civil war in Syria began in March of last year, an estimated 250,000 refugees have fled to camps in neighboring Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon. In the past few months, threats of air and artillery attacks have accelerated the exodus. The ANERA office in Lebanon has registered 66,000 Syrian refugees already. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),  75 percent of the new arrivals are women and children and many of these refugees are entirely dependent on humanitarian aid, some coming with only the clothes on their backs and few financial resources.

This aid will help strengthen medical services for Syrian refugees in Lebanon and demonstrates Direct Relief’s mission to improve the health and lives of those affected by poverty, disaster, and civil unrest. Direct Relief sincerely thanks Covidien for their partnership in supporting these relief efforts.