More than a week after Super Typhoon Haiyan (locally called Yolanda) hit the Philippines, Direct Relief has delivered $4 million worth of requested medicines and supplies to help thousands of people affected by the storm access emergency medical treatment.
The donations contain antibiotics, I.V. fluids, oral rehydration formula, trauma and wound care supplies, pain relievers, surgical instruments, nutritional supplements, hygiene kits, and medicines for chronic diseases.
These supplies were shipped to the affected areas by both air-cargo to trusted partners working on the ground as well as by hand-carries to traveling doctors and nurses who are staffing field hospitals where people in need are seeking medical care.
In addition to medical material, Direct Relief has provided $150,000 in immediate cash grants to three highly-respected Filipino partners on the ground to support their emergency relief operations, including: the Zuellig Foundation, Asia America Initiative, and the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation.
The emergency cash grants allow these local groups to continue supporting families affected with basic needs such as nutritional support, clean water, and medical care.
Furthermore, two Direct Relief staffers are on the ground in the Philippines and are working with senior Filipino officials, Filipino nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), US government officials, and other NGOs to sort through logistics channels and roles among the numerous organizations involved in the response. As new information becomes available each day, the team is better able to assess health needs and tailor Direct Relief’s response effectively.
Direct Relief Emergency Response Manager, Andrew MacCalla, reported that Divine Word Hospital has been out of supplies for a week, but still has patients coming in the doors and not leaving because they have no where else to go.
It’s clear that across the island nation, health needs remain high. The World Health Organization reports that many health concerns remain, including: wounds and injuries, water borne diseases, inadequate hygiene, communicable diseases spread by displacement and overcrowding (such as respiratory infections), malnutrition, and others.
Throughout this week, Direct Relief’s team is mobilizing another $1.4 million worth of essential medicines and supplies for health care providers like Divine Word that will ship via a dedicated FedEx wide-body jetliner, departing Saturday from Los Angeles for Cebu, Philippines.
Direct Relief continues to receive requests from partners on the ground. To support the relief and recovery efforts, donate here: http://j.mp/12tQOWR.
Follow @DirectRelief on Twitter for the latest updates on the response.
*last updated at 2:20 p.m. Nov. 19
