As California Wildfires Blaze, Direct Relief Dispatches Medical Aid to Impacted Communities

Fire crews respond to the Park Fire in Butte County, California, on July 31, 2024. The fire is the largest in the state and Direct Relief has dispatched medical essentials requested by health facilities in the area. (Photo courtesy of CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado Unit)

In the past week, Direct Relief delivered 441 shipments of requested medical aid to 42 U.S. states and territories and 15 countries worldwide. Included is support for communities in California impacted by wildfires, as well as health facilities in the Caribbean and Texas affected by Hurricane Beryl.

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

Requested medical supplies are prepared for delivery to healthcare clinics and first responders in Butte and Shasta Counties in response to the Park Fire. The shipment contains field medic packs, N95 masks, and hygiene kits for those impacted by the fire and evacuations. (Maeve Ozimec/Direct Relief)

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

Direct Relief announced an additional commitment of $10 million to address urgent medical needs and bolster the resilience of healthcare infrastructure across Ukraine. The announcement was made at a July 23, 2024, event at Ukraine House in Washington, D.C., hosted by Direct Relief, The Ukrainian Ministry of Health, and the Ukrainian Embassy. (Photo by Radomskiy Photography)

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:

  • Tunisia
  • Jamaica
  • Liberia
  • Sudan
  • Ghana
  • Dominican Republic
  • India
  • Ukraine
  • Uganda
  • Malawi

UNITED STATES

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

  • Mission Arlington Medical Clinic, Texas
  • The People’s Health Clinic, Utah
  • Faith Family Medical Clinic, Tennessee
  • El Proyecto del Barrio, California
  • The Neighborhood Christian Clinic, Arizona
  • Delta Health Center, Mississippi
  • North Jefferson County Clinic Pharmacy, Texas
  • Pocatello Free Clinic, Idaho
  • Morton Comprehensive Health Services, Oklahoma
  • First Baptist Medical and Dental Clinic, Mississippi

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.

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