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Direct Relief International Response to India Flood Disaster
04 Aug 2005 18:58:00 GMT
Source: NGO latest
Direct Relief International
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Direct Relief International (DRI) - USA
Website: http://www.directrelief.org
August 4, 2005, Santa Barbara, Calif.—In response to the flood disaster in Mumbai, India, Direct Relief International is preparing an emergency shipment of medical goods to the affected region. Direct Relief’s in-country coordinator, who is located in Mumbai, contacted the Public Health authorities to offer assistance and was immediately provided with a specific needs list and asked to have the products sent as soon as possible.
The shipment, which will be received by the Mumbai Public Health Department, includes anti-infective and anti-parasitic agents, analgesics, oral rehydration salts, and water purification tablets. These products were specifically requested to address gastrointestinal and respiratory problems including potential outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera which may occur after major flooding and damage to sanitation infrastructure. Public Health officials are also concerned about outbreaks of dengue fever and malaria. The 8 pallet shipment, weighing approximately 5,000 lbs, has a wholesale value of $825,961.81.
The Mumbai Public Health Department is assisting victims of the flood disaster though its extensive network of hospitals, primary health centers, and dispensaries located throughout Mumbai and the surrounding suburbs.
It is now estimated by officials that nearly 1,000 people have been killed in the floods. Reports from the region estimate that more than 25,000 people have been evacuated from areas surrounding dams in the state of Maharashtra, where Mumbai is located. Also in the state of Madhya Pradesh, north of Maharashtra, 15,000 people have been evacuated to relief camps.
“Direct Relief has provided medical assistance to charitable healthcare facilities and programs and responded to natural disasters in India for 45 years,” said Susan Fowler, Direct Relief International Senior Program Officer and Tsunami Relief Coordinator. “Our strong history and presence in India facilitates our rapid response to these types of emergency situations.”
In February 2005 Fowler traveled to Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to assess need and visit Direct Relief partners.
In 2004, Direct Relief provided more than $9.6 million (wholesale value) in medical supplies to health facilities and programs in India, providing full courses of treatment for more than one million people. Direct Relief has also continued to support long term medical programs in response to the massive 2001 earthquake in Gujarat and is currently working with a number of Indian non-governmental organizations to provide medical services and rebuild the medical infrastructure in tsunami-affected regions of the country.
This first response is expected to ship on Friday, August 5 and will be transported by air freight to Mumbai.
Direct Relief International
Founded in 1948 by two immigrant businessmen, Direct Relief International is a non-profit, non-sectarian humanitarian assistance organization based in Santa Barbara, California. For 56 years, Direct Relief has provided medical material assistance in the form of pharmaceuticals, supplies, and new and refurbished medical equipment to over 3,000 charitable health facilities worldwide and within the United States. In 2004, the organization provided more than $122 million (wholesale value) in medicines, supplies and equipment to health projects in 54 countries, enough provisions to keep hundreds of local health professionals and clinics productively engaged and provide full courses of medical treatment for over 20 million people. Direct Relief International is recognized as a "4-Star" charity by Charity Navigator, the online service that reviews and evaluates U.S. nonprofit organizations. Direct Relief was cited by Forbes Magazine in 2004 as a U.S charity with 100% efficiency and in 2003 by Consumers Digest as one of only five of the leading U.S. charitable organizations evaluated to receive 99% or better efficiency ranking in their 2003 survey of major U.S. charities. Worth Magazine named Direct Relief among "America's Best 100 Charities" in its December 2001/January 2002 edition, and The Chronicle of Philanthropy continues to rank Direct Relief as the largest private international relief organization in California. The organization's website is www.directrelief.org. of only five of the leading U.S. charitable organizations evaluated to receive 99% or better efficiency ranking in their 2003 survey of major U.S. charities. Worth Magazine named Direct Relief among "America's Best 100 Charities" in its December 2001/January 2002 edition, and The Chronicle of Philanthropy continues to rank Direct Relief as the largest private international relief organization in California. The organization's website is www.directrelief.org.
Note to Editors: The flood response shipment is being assembled and packed at Direct Relief International on Thursday and Friday , August 4 & 5, for air transport on Friday. For interview or photo scheduling, please contact Juliana Minsky (805) 962-3700 or jm@surfmedia.com.
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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
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