The materials include an emergency supply of first aid materials provided by Johnson & Johnson, as well as personal care products, sutures, iodine tablets for water purification, and nebulizers with albuterol medication for asthmatics and people with other breathing difficulties.

The contents were specifically requested by Direct Relief’s Peruvian partners and will be consigned to the Archdiocese of Lima, which has launched extensive relief efforts in response to the quake and also is attempting to assist people who are suffering from the severe cold snap in the interior mountain regions.  The Friday shipment also contains 4000 wool blankets for the many displaced residing in parks and shelters.

In addition to providing needed physical comfort, the blankets and personal hygiene products can help prevent exposure-related health problems and other illnesses that arise in temporary shelter situations with limited sanitation.

Reports from Direct Relief’s partners indicate that transportation and distribution logistics continue to present problems for the relief efforts. The Archdiocese, that has a warehouse independent from the Ministry of Health and other central government staging areas, is less affected by these issues. The Archbishop’s office continues to coordinate efforts with the Peruvian Armed Forces, the Civil Defense, and the Ministry of Health.

Friday’s $126,000 shipment (wholesale value) follows the initial emergency shipment furnished last week containing more than $92,000 of material.  We anticipate providing an additional material aid being furnished next week as needs lists are refined from on-the-ground assessments.

Direct Relief is tentatively planning another shipment of aid next week which will contain further medicines and personal care items for the shelters.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to those who have furnished cash and in-kind support to assist people in Peru.  We will use any such restricted donations only for Peru without any deduction for administrative expenses.  As noted earlier, a generous bequest received last year now pays all Direct Relief’s fundraising and administrative overhead expenses.

Special thanks to the following companies which have donated their products for the humanitarian effort:

• Abbott
• BD
• Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation
• Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
• Carlsbad Technology, Inc.
• Johnson & Johnson
• Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies
• Marlex Pharmaceuticals
• Matrixx Initiatives, Inc.
• McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals
• Midmark Corporation
• Miltex, Inc.
• Mylan Laboratories, Inc.
• OHM Laboratories, Inc.
• Sage Products, Inc.
• sanofi-aventis
• Schering-Plough Corporation
• Watson Pharmaceuticals
• Wisconsin Pharmacal Company LLC

Those interested in making a cash donation may visit  Direct Relief’s donation page  and select “Peru Earthquake” as the designation.

The post FedEx Donates Second Emergency Airlift for 16-Ton Humanitarian Delivery Friday appeared first on Direct Relief.

The shipment includes a supply of antibiotics, which have been among the most-needed medicines, as well as other medical supplies. The cold weather, poor sanitary conditions, and dust from damaged buildings have increased the likelihood of upper respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia, which antibiotics are effective at treating.

A truckload of Direct Relief medical aid to the Archdiocese of Lima has left Lima for Chincha, which, located some 20 miles from the epicenter, is one of the cities most affected by the quake. Staff members from the Archdiocese are in the process of distributing the material to those in need.

According to Direct Relief’s network of in-country partners, the greatest needs at this time include logistical support for the aid coming into the country, tents, and blankets for displaced people. An additional shipment leaving this week will include significant amounts of blankets, as well as personal care supplies like soaps and shampoos. FedEx has again donated their services, providing Direct Relief free palletized air freight to Peru.

The Pan American Health Organization advises that the often-reported threat of disease from decomposing bodies is largely inaccurate.  Click here to see the article.

There continues to be considerable seismic activity in Peru. The country’s Geophysics Institute has detected more than 430 aftershocks, some as large as 5.9 in magnitude. Experts from the U.S. Geological Survey say that aftershocks from the quake could extend for weeks, even months.

Direct Relief would sincerely like to thank all donors to the Peru relief effort, especially the following corporate donors for making their materials available for the relief effort:

• Abbott
• BD
• Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation
• Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
• Carlsbad Technology, Inc.
• Johnson & Johnson
• Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies
• Marlex Pharmaceuticals
• Matrixx Initiatives, Inc.
• McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals
• Midmark Corporation
• Miltex, Inc.
• Mylan Laboratories, Inc.
• OHM Laboratories, Inc.
• Sage Products, Inc.
• sanofi-aventis
• Schering-Plough Corporation
• Watson Pharmaceuticals
• Wisconsin Pharmacal Company LLC

As previously stated, any funds designated for the quake relief effort will be restricted for use only in response to the Peru earthquake. Those interested in making a cash donation may visit Direct Relief’s donation page and select “Peru Earthquake” as the designation.

The post Additional Aid Set for Peru in Aftermath of Quake appeared first on Direct Relief.

Perez surveyed Direct Relief’s operations, met with the team handling the emergency response, and authorized on behalf of the Peruvian government immediate clearance of Direct Relief’s humanitarian aid.

CEO Thomas Tighe extended his deepest sympathies to Perez for the tragic loss of life caused by the earthquake and pledged Direct Relief’s full and ongoing support to help care for victims in response to the tragedy.

Dr. Kuon, whose organization conducts extensive humanitarian health efforts in Peru, is providing invaluable information from the network of Peruvian health officials and is supporting in-country logistics to ensure essential material is reaching responders immediately.

As the health needs of victims continue to be identified, Direct Relief is making arrangements to airlift additional medical and personal care supplies.  FedEx, which provided at no charge the initial airlift yesterday, has offered its continued logistics and transport support to Direct Relief’s response.

Program Officer Dan Smith, whose wife and daughter are in Peru, is coordinating Direct Relief’s response.  Smith has worked closely with the office of the Archdiocese of Lima for over five years on various humanitarian health projects and is in close communication with the Peruvian national civil defense coordinating agency, PAMS, and other Peruvian organizations involved in the relief effort.

Direct Relief’s first emergency airlift, completed less than 20 hours after the quake, included medical and first aid items specifically requested by Peruvian authorities.

Yesterday, Direct Relief committed $100,000 of its own resources to the quake relief effort, regardless of whether any contributions are received.  Any additional funds that are received for the quake will be restricted for use only in response to the Peru earthquake.

In light of the significant attention to this emergency, we wish to clarify that any funds received for the Peru quake will be used exclusively for this purpose without any expense charged to administration or fundraising.  Direct Relief pays all such overhead expenses with its own funds, thanks to a generous bequest received last year.

Direct Relief would sincerely like to thank the following corporate donors for making their materials available for the relief effort:

• Abbott
• BD
• Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation
• Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
• Carlsbad Technology, Inc.
• Johnson & Johnson
• Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies
• Marlex Pharmaceuticals
• Matrixx Initiatives, Inc.
• McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals
• Midmark Corporation
• Miltex, Inc.
• Mylan Laboratories, Inc.
• OHM Laboratories, Inc.
• Sage Products, Inc.
• sanofi-aventis
• Schering-Plough Corporation
• Watson Pharmaceuticals
• Wisconsin Pharmacal Company LLC

Direct Relief is closely monitoring the situation and is in constant communication with its in-country partner network.  As the relief effort evolves, additional shipments will be air freighted as required.

The post Peruvian Government Expedites Direct Relief Humanitarian Assistance appeared first on Direct Relief.

The shipment was sent to one of our long-standing partners in Peru, the Archdiocese of Lima. A partner with Direct Relief for eight years, the Archdiocese operates two clinics located within the poorest sections of Lima, Peru’s sprawling capital city, and one located outside the city.

The donation consisted of specifically requested items, primarily antibiotics, to be delivered to the Instituto Nacional de Defensa Civil (INDECI), the primary coordinating agency for the government’s relief effort. The Archdiocese’s office is working to coordinate relief efforts with INDECI.

Other items in the shipment included first aid materials (gauze, first aid tape, bandages, etc.), antibiotic creams, analgesics, IV solutions and accessories, and oral rehydration salts.

Direct Relief would sincerely like to thank the following corporate donors for making their materials available for the relief effort:

• Abbott
• BD
• Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation
• Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
• Carlsbad Technology, Inc.
• Johnson & Johnson
• Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies
• Marlex Pharmaceuticals
• Matrixx Initiatives, Inc.
• McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals
• Midmark Corporation
• Miltex, Inc.
• Mylan Laboratories, Inc.
• OHM Laboratories, Inc.
• Sage Products, Inc.
• sanofi-aventis
• Schering-Plough Corporation
• Watson Pharmaceuticals
• Wisconsin Pharmacal Company LLC

Direct Relief is closely monitoring the situation and is in constant communication with its in-country partner network.  As the relief effort evolves, additional shipments will be air freighted as required.

The post Direct Relief Sending Resources to Aid Victims of Peru Earthquake appeared first on Direct Relief.