×

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.

Medical Support Reaches Power-Impacted Communities in Puerto Rico

Backup power units, essential medicines, and other critical supplies are delivered across the island, post-Fiona.

News

Hurricane Fiona

Medicines are delivered to Med Centro in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 20, 2022. (Brea Burkholz/Direct Relief)
By Lara Cooper

Tuesday marked the fifth year since Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc on Puerto Rico. It was also a day that Direct Relief staff spent delivering medical aid across the island in response to Hurricane Fiona, the most recent storm that swept through Sunday causing an island-wide blackout and powerful flooding.

About 80 percent of households lacked power in Puerto Rico as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Poweroutage.us. Those most vulnerable during outages are people dependent on electricity-powered medical devices to stay alive, and among Tuesday’s Direct Relief deliveries was a power generator for a pediatric hospital patient requiring a 24/7 life-sustaining ventilator and other equipment in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico.

Direct Relief staff delivered a power generator to the home of a pediatric hospital patient who requires a 24/7 life-sustaining ventilator and other equipment in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 20, 2022. (Brea Burkholz/Direct Relief)

Chronic disease medications were also identified as a need from local health centers post-Fiona, and Direct Relief staff delivered supplies for diabetes management, including lancets, blood glucose readers and test strips, and insulin to Med Centro, a health center serving the community of Ponce, which is located on the island’s southern coast, and also to the Ponce Medical School Foundation.

Field medic packs for first responders and essential medicines were also delivered to Med Centro.

Direct Relief staff in Puerto Rico prepared diabetes medications for delivery to health facilities across the island on Sept. 20, 2022, in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona. (Brea Burkholz/Direct Relief)

Puerto Rico is a regional disaster response hub for the Caribbean region, and Direct Relief maintains medical stockpiles on the island. The organization also has local emergency response team members, who were deployed during last year’s earthquake in Haiti, the 2020 earthquakes in Puerto Rico, and Hurricane Dorian’s impacts on the Bahamas.

More than 28 tons of medical aid are staged in Puerto Rico currently, and Direct Relief is assessing the needs of local health systems.

Fiona’s impacts on the Dominican Republic

More than 1 million people were estimated to be without running water in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, and hundreds were reported to be staying in shelters across the country. Power outages are also reported to be an issue in many communities, though how many are impacted by the blackouts is unclear.

Essential medicines staged in the Dominican Republic were opened Sept. 20, 2022, for distribution to impacted communities. (Photo courtesy of Fundación Solidaria del Divino Niño Jesús, Inc.)

Essential medicines staged in the Dominican Republic prior to the storm were unpacked on Tuesday for distribution to medical facilities in impacted communities.

People in Turks and Caicos were also bracing for the storm’s impacts Tuesday, and the hurricane had strengthened to a Category 3 storm with winds of more than 111 miles per hour. Direct Relief is coordinating with health officials as the situation develops.

Filed Under: , , ,

Giving is Good Medicine

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