2024: The Year in Review

Dr. Yousef Motii conducts medical outreach in the destroyed Spanish Lakes neighborhood in Ft. Pierce, Florida. Motii is a clinician at Oceana Health, which has been providing medical services to residents impacted by recent hurricanes. (Photo by Bimarian Films)

By Staff

November 20, 2024

All people, regardless of politics, religion, or ability to pay, deserve access to quality healthcare. Direct
Relief remains committed to delivering essential medicine at no charge for the most vulnerable, so they may be more resilient.

In its 76 years, Direct Relief has become a leading provider of humanitarian medical assistance globally, and the largest supplier of charitable medicines in the U.S. Healthcare providers in medically underserved communities rely on Direct Relief to deliver requested medicines rapidly during emergencies and throughout the year to care for those most in need. This report provides an overview of how and where Direct Relief has leveraged support from generous individuals, companies, and foundations to improve the health and lives of millions of people in 2024.

A PDF version of this report can be found here.

2024 AID TRACKER
Unaudited totals through November 1, 2024

$1,401,106,147 in medical assistance
$68,373,645 in financial assistance
340,028,119 Defined Daily Doses of medicine
4,384,844 pounds of medicine and supplies
20,802 deliveries
2,283 healthcare providers supported
89 countries

Thank you for being part of Direct Relief.

Responding to the Health Impacts of Climate Change

Direct Relief staff and volunteers conduct medical outreach at a health fair on Culebra, on March 15, 2024. The island off the coast of Puerto Rico’s mainland, has limited access to medical care. (Photo by Edgar Cruz for Direct Relief)

Climate change has profound effects on public health in vulnerable communities. Poverty and poor health reinforce each other, and natural disasters increase the effect. People who live with economic hardship, inadequate housing, or limited healthcare access are hit hardest as they have fewer resources to recover and adapt.

Disaster Preparedness and Response

Direct Relief hurricane preparedness packs are delivered prior to the 2024 hurricane season. (Direct Relief photo)

Each year, Direct Relief pre-positions hurricane preparedness packs with essential medications and supplies with community health providers in secure locations near vulnerable areas. Priority is given to safety-net clinics that support low-income and displaced individuals. In 2024, Direct Relief pre-positioned 30 packs with health facilities in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.

Responding to Hurricanes Helene and Milton

Medical staff at Appalachian Mountain Community Health receive aid from Direct Relief following Hurricane Helene, which devastated northwestern North Carolina, including Asheville. (Photo by David Uttley for Direct Relief)

Direct Relief mobilized quickly, providing $700,000 in financial assistance and delivering 175 shipments of requested medicines and supplies valued at over $74 million (wholesale) to more than 90 healthcare providers in Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Shipments included emergency medical backpacks, respiratory relief, antibiotics, chronic disease medicines, vaccines, personal protective equipment, and water purification tablets.

Building Resilience

Severe weather and climate-related power outages threaten access to essential health services, putting vulnerable populations at risk. In 2024, Direct Relief expanded its support for off-grid, renewable power systems at community health clinics, ensuring uninterrupted care and protecting cold chain infrastructure for the safe storage and distribution of vital medications like vaccines and insulin.

Delivering Aid in Hard-to-Reach Places

The road to the Direct Relief-supported Wanale Health Center in Mbale, Uganda. (Photo by David Uttley for Direct Relief)

People living in remote areas, with poor infrastructure, or affected by violent conflict often face a disproportionate burden of disease. Reaching these communities is crucial, as conflict and lack of infrastructure reinforce the preexisting burden of disease. In 2024, Direct Relief delivered critical resources to these vulnerable areas, improving health equity and ensuring lifesaving support reached those most in need.

Exceeding $1 Billion in Medical Support to Ukraine

Children received pediatric consultations at a mobile clinic in Ukraine in March 2024. Hundreds of children received specialty services as part of the mobile outreach coordinated by Direct Relief-supported Charity Fund Modern Village and Town. (Courtesy photo)

Direct Relief’s response to the war in Ukraine is the largest effort in the organization’s history. This year, Direct Relief provided $42 million in financial assistance, and delivered 138 shipments of medical supplies, bringing the total to 2,480 tons, valued at $1.4 billion (wholesale). Continuing efforts focus on rehabilitation, mental health, mobile and emergency care, and resilient power for health services.

Bolstering Health Care in Papua New Guinea

Communities in East Sepik, Papua New Guinea, welcome Hope Worldwide staff members operating a clean water program. Communities along the Sepik River, in the country’s remote north, were inundated with severe and widespread flooding earlier this year. The organization has worked with Direct Relief to distribute medical aid to impacted communities. (Photo courtesy of Hope Worldwide)

After a series of natural disasters in Papua New Guinea this year, Direct Relief delivered emergency medical backpacks, an emergency health kit, and a range of other requested medicines and supplies to community health providers.

Delivering Insulin to Haiti

Haiti Health Network receives medications from Direct Relief. The group distributed the supplies to healthcare facilities across Haiti. (Photo by The Dalton Foundation).

Haiti has a high prevalence of diabetes, yet poverty and civil disorder have made it difficult for Haitians to access life-saving insulin. Insulin must be kept within a specific temperature range to be safe, and poor cold-chain infrastructure makes deliveries to Haiti particularly difficult. In 2024, Direct Relief overcame these obstacles and successfully delivered two shipments of insulin.

Providing Medical Aid in the Middle East

Health providers conduct mobile health outreach in Gaza in January 2024. The mobile clinics are designed to provide a comprehensive range of medical services, including general healthcare, gynecology, dermatology, pediatrics, internal medicine, and psychological support. The health outreach was run by NGO Anera, and Direct Relief supported these efforts with medications and supplies, as well as financial support. (Photos courtesy of Anera)

In 2024, Direct Relief provided over $255 million (wholesale) in requested aid across Egypt, Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen. Nearly 179 tons of medical aid valued at $35.5 million was delivered to Gaza, including cancer treatments, diabetes supplies, cardiac medications, wound care, and water purification supplies.

Improving Cancer Care in Mongolia and Yemen

A health provider conducts lab work as part of patient care with the group Yemen Aid. (Courtesy photo)

Mongolia has the world’s highest rate of cancer mortality per capita. In 2024, Direct Relief delivered its first-ever shipment to a healthcare provider there, providing cancer treatments aiming to improve survival rates. In Yemen, years of conflict, poverty, and damaged infrastructure have weakened the country’s health system. In 2024, Direct Relief delivered medication for breast cancer and gastric cancer in Yemen, where shortages are widespread.