LOS ANGELES – Direct Relief, a leading medical relief organization based in Santa Barbara, Southern California, conducted its largest emergency supplies to people affected by Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. The emergency relief medical items were delivered on a wide-bodied cargo aircraft flight arranged and donated by FedEx that arrived in Cebu on November 25. 250,000 persons are expected to be treated by these medical aid.
Direct Relief President and CEO Thomas Tighe left for the Philippines in the evening on November 23 to receive the cargo in Cebu. Consul General Ma. Hellen Barber De La Vega, representing the Philippine Ambassador to Washington D.C., H.E. Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., witnessed the three hour loading of the cargo, together with Mr. Tighe and other Disaster Relief personnel and FedEx crew members. Ms. Vernice Hunt, a Filipino-American, joined the FedEx plane to help in the relief effort.
Direct Relief earlier delivered 10 tons of materials valued at $4 million for the relief effort. The organization’s private efforts in the Philippines are being guided by close work and consultation with a broad consortium of private organizations, including the Asia-America initiative, the Philippine Red Cross, the IPI Foundation and the US-Philippine Society to ensure proper coordination with the Philippine Government and its officials in managing overall relief activities.
Direct Relief is among the largest medical suppliers to Haiti in response to the 2010 earthquake, has top charity ratings and a 99 percent fundraising efficiency rating from Forbes magazine.
(PCG)
