Disaster Relief

Relief Done Right

Effective disaster response requires more than just speed—it requires the right aid at the right time. Direct Relief mobilizes rapidly to deliver medical resources in direct response to specific requests from local healthcare partners. Coordinating with public health agencies and international responders ensures that every shipment is medically relevant, avoids logistical bottlenecks, and maximizes impact.

Medical aid from Direct Relief arrives via helicopter in the Bahamas.
View of wildfire smoke affecting a rural community in California

Wildfire Relief

Direct Relief is supporting medical facilities, first response agencies and communities affected by wildfires in the U.S. and throughout the world with requested fire-related medical items and emergency gear.

Direct Relief emergency medical pack being delivered after a hurricane in Florida.

Hurricane Relief

Direct Relief responds each hurricane season before disaster strikes by staging emergency medicine with health facilities in hurricane-prone regions of the Gulf Coast and Caribbean.

Disaster Relief & Recovery

A doctor cares for patients outdoors after an earthquake in Nepal.

Each disaster has specific characteristics that are dependent upon local facts and circumstances.

Disaster News & Analysis

Designed for Disasters

Direct Relief designs a range of products that address urgent needs when disasters strike.

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Emergency AID TRACKER

Unaudited emergency response-related totals since Jul. 1, 2025 (start of FY 2026)
Updated
in medical aid
$373,607,757
doses of medicine
117,101,366
pounds of medicine and supplies
1,841,647
deliveries
287
healthcare providers supported
90

Disaster Relief & Emergency Response FAQ

Learn more about Direct Relief’s methodology, the 72-hour priority window, and how the organization adapts response efforts to specific types of global crises.

How does Direct Relief ensure disaster aid is effective and coordinated?
Direct Relief coordinates with local, national, and international responders to avoid duplication of efforts and logistical bottlenecks. By responding to specific requests, we ensure that the introduction of non-essential items does not impede relief efforts by clogging logistics and distribution channels.
What are the immediate priorities in the first 72 hours of a disaster?
The top priority is search-and-rescue and lifesaving medical triage. Because widespread injuries occur simultaneously and can overwhelm medical systems, Direct Relief focuses on the acute need for health personnel, medical supplies, blood, and medicines immediately following the event.
How do medical needs change based on the type of disaster?
Every disaster requires a tailored medical response. Earthquakes typically cause blunt trauma and orthopedic injuries, while floods tend to result in water-borne diseases and respiratory issues. Direct Relief adapts its shipments to meet these specific health profiles.
How does climate change impact global health emergencies?
Climate change acts as a threat multiplier for health. Direct Relief addresses the “Climate-Health Nexus” by pre-positioning medical supplies in high-risk zones and building climate-resilient health systems to handle shifts in disease patterns and extreme weather events.
How much of my donation goes directly to disaster relief?
Direct Relief is committed to transparency and efficiency. 100% of all designated contributions for specific disasters go directly to relief efforts related to that event.

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