2006.05.29: May 29, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Thailand: NGOs: Staff: Chief of Staff: COS - Indonesia: Reuters AlertNet: Direct Relief International Commits $100,000 in Cash and $500,000 in Medical Material Aid to Indonesia Quake Relief Effort
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2006.05.29: May 29, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Thailand: NGOs: Staff: Chief of Staff: COS - Indonesia: Reuters AlertNet: Direct Relief International Commits $100,000 in Cash and $500,000 in Medical Material Aid to Indonesia Quake Relief Effort
Direct Relief International Commits $100,000 in Cash and $500,000 in Medical Material Aid to Indonesia Quake Relief Effort
"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. 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 $100,000 in Cash and $500,000 in Medical Material Aid to Indonesia Quake Relief Effort
Direct Relief International Commits $100,000 in Cash and $500,000 in Medical Material Aid to Indonesia Quake Relief Effort
29 May 2006 01:46:00 GMT
Source: Direct Relief International (DRI) - USA
Website: http://www.directrelief.org
Direct Relief International today committed an initial $100,000 in cash and $500,000 in medical material to assist victims of the devastating 6.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Indonesia on May 28.
"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."
Direct Relief has been coordinating with colleague U.S.-based international groups with staff members in Indonesia, with partner companies, and with the National Chairman of Muhammadiyah, Indonesia's largest civic organization whose hospital in the quake affected area is already overwhelmed with victims.
Direct Relief has received detailed needs lists from four organizations and is preparing a series of emergency medical air shipments based on these specific requests.
Corporate partner companies Abbott Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline, and Johnson & Johnson have authorized Direct Relief to allocate to the Java quake relief effort products they have previously donated and are in the organization's inventory.
The initial cash commitment will be used to provide emergency cash assistance to Muhammadiyah and potentially to other organizations providing emergency urgent medical and support services to the quake victims and for transport of requested medical material.
Direct Relief emergency coordinator, Brett Williams, an emergency medical technician (EMT), is traveling to Java to expedite material aid plans and logistics to the affected region. He will be working with U.S. physicians associated with Australian Aid International, coordinating with Dr. Markus and Muhammadiyah staff members, and other groups providing assistance.
In response to a series of natural disasters and health emergencies over the past year and a half, beginning with the tsunami that struck South Asia in December 2004, Direct Relief has been called upon to provide emergency medical aid to degree unprecedented in its 58-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.
Over the past 19 months, Direct Relief International has furnished over $13.8 million in medical aid and cash assistance to tsunami-affected areas in Indonesia.
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 58 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 2005, Direct Relief provided $201 million in direct aid through medical material assistance and targeted cash grants serving 24 million people in 56 countries worldwide. Direct Relief also supports critical health and emergency programs throughout California State and in Santa Barbara County. Direct Relief is recognized as a "4-Star" charity by Charity Navigator and was cited by Forbes magazine in 2005 for third consecutive year as a U.S. charity with 100% efficiency and the Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked Direct Relief as the largest non-academic charity in California.
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Story Source: Reuters AlertNet
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Thailand; NGOs; Staff; Chief of Staff; COS - Indonesia
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