“This is an initial cash commitment from our existing resources to respond to the severe medical needs of the people who have been injured and displaced,” said Direct Relief President and CEO Thomas Tighe. We are committing these funds regardless of how much money we may receive,” said Tighe. “If we receive more, we will increase our commitment.” Thomas Tighe, the head of Direct Relief International, was formerly the Chief of Staff of the Peace Corps and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand.
Direct Relief International Commits $250,000 in Cash to Pakistani Relief Effort
Direct Relief International Commits $250,000 in Cash to Pakistani Relief Effort
19 Oct 2005 07:27:00 GMT
Direct Relief International (DRI) - USA
Website: http://www.directrelief.org
Direct Relief International today announced that it has committed an initial $250,000 in cash to assist victims of the devastating earthquake in Pakistan and India. The organization has already furnished over $500,000 of antibiotics, antifungal creams, casting material, personal care items, stethoscopes, and surgical equipment to support emergency health services to quake victims.
“This is an initial cash commitment from our existing resources to respond to the severe medical needs of the people who have been injured and displaced,” said Direct Relief President and CEO Thomas Tighe. We are committing these funds regardless of how much money we may receive,” said Tighe. “If we receive more, we will increase our commitment.”
The initial cash commitment will be used to provide emergency cash assistance to organizations providing urgent services, such as clinics, shelters, and hospitals that continue to receive overwhelming numbers of patients from evacuated areas in both Pakistan and in India.
Direct Relief operations manager Brett Williams, a registered EMT, is traveling to Pakistan to expedite shipping requests to the affected region in Pakistan. Williams will join international and local relief efforts to coordinate logistics for medical assistance.
Direct Relief has responded to the massive earthquake that reportedly killed over 50,000 persons in Pakistan and left millions homeless in Pakistan and India with two hand-carried shipments and airlifted a three-ton shipment of emergency medical supplies. The hand-carried shipments were furnished to a team of U.S.-based emergency room physicians affiliated with Relief International, a colleague U.S. organization; the bulk shipment was provided to Caritas Pakistan, which is working with Direct Relief partner facility Bethania Hospital in Sailkot, Pakistan.
In response to a series of natural disasters and health emergencies over the past several months beginning with the tsunami that struck south Asia last December, Direct Relief has been called upon to provide emergency medical aid to degree unprecedented in its 57-year history.
“We are deeply saddened by the extensive loss of life and we will stretch to provide whatever resources we can to assist the people who have survived this tragedy,” said Tighe.
The medications and medical supplies furnished to Pakistan have been generously donated to Direct Relief by the following companies:
* Abbott * Aearo Company * Allergan, Inc. * Amsino International * BD * Bristol-Myers Squibb Company * BSN Medical, Inc. – Orthopaedics GBU * Forest Laboratories, Inc. * Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. * Johnson & Johnson * Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies * Kendall Healthcare, Tyco * King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. * Miltex Instrument Company * Pfizer, Inc. * Sandel Medical Industries, LLC * Schering-Plough Corporation * Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. o In addition to donations from other corporate partners
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. 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. 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. 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.
