×

News publications and other organizations are encouraged to reuse Direct Relief-published content for free under a Creative Commons License (Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International), given the republisher complies with the requirements identified below.

When republishing:

  • Include a byline with the reporter’s name and Direct Relief in the following format: "Author Name, Direct Relief." If attribution in that format is not possible, include the following language at the top of the story: "This story was originally published by Direct Relief."
  • If publishing online, please link to the original URL of the story.
  • Maintain any tagline at the bottom of the story.
  • With Direct Relief's permission, news publications can make changes such as localizing the content for a particular area, using a different headline, or shortening story text. To confirm edits are acceptable, please check with Direct Relief by clicking this link.
  • If new content is added to the original story — for example, a comment from a local official — a note with language to the effect of the following must be included: "Additional reporting by [reporter and organization]."
  • If republished stories are shared on social media, Direct Relief appreciates being tagged in the posts:
    • Twitter (@DirectRelief)
    • Facebook (@DirectRelief)
    • Instagram (@DirectRelief)

Republishing Images:

Unless stated otherwise, images shot by Direct Relief may be republished for non-commercial purposes with proper attribution, given the republisher complies with the requirements identified below.

  • Maintain correct caption information.
  • Credit the photographer and Direct Relief in the caption. For example: "First and Last Name / Direct Relief."
  • Do not digitally alter images.

Direct Relief often contracts with freelance photographers who usually, but not always, allow their work to be published by Direct Relief’s media partners. Contact Direct Relief for permission to use images in which Direct Relief is not credited in the caption by clicking here.

Other Requirements:

  • Do not state or imply that donations to any third-party organization support Direct Relief's work.
  • Republishers may not sell Direct Relief's content.
  • Direct Relief's work is prohibited from populating web pages designed to improve rankings on search engines or solely to gain revenue from network-based advertisements.
  • Advance permission is required to translate Direct Relief's stories into a language different from the original language of publication. To inquire, contact us here.
  • If Direct Relief requests a change to or removal of republished Direct Relief content from a site or on-air, the republisher must comply.

For any additional questions about republishing Direct Relief content, please email the team here.

With Access to Some Communities Still a Challenge, Helicopter Flights Get Key Medicines to Isolated Areas

News

Hurricane Maria

Daniel Ramos of the Puerto Rico Primary Care Association and Alexis Romero of the Corporacion de Servicios Medicos, a clinic in Utuado, unload Direct Relief medicines from a helicopter provided by Samaritan’s Purse. (Lara Cooper/Direct Relief)

Direct Relief shipments of critical medicines reached several communities in Puerto Rico Sunday, places where access has been a challenge.

Helicopters provided an infusion of help to the community of Utuado, as well as to the island of Vieques. The shipments sent out Sunday amounted to more than $120,000 in donated medicines and supplies.

A bridge connecting Utuado to outside roads is seen in the bottom right corner of the frame, washed away by recent rains. (Lara Cooper/Direct Relief)

Samaritan’s Purse provided helicopter transportation to the mountain community of Utuado, which has had limited road access since daily rains have washed out much of the roadways and bridges that link the municipality to the rest of the island.

Swollen rivers in the community of Utuado as seen from above. (Lara Cooper/Direct Relief)

The helicopter was able to move a shipment of Direct Relief medicine into the community in less than 45 minutes, a drive that would have taken all day from San Juan, even if the roads had been operable.

On Sunday morning, the helicopter touched down in a muddy softball field down the street from Corporacion de Servicios Medicos, where the medicines were bound.

Utuado resident Tito Camarillo heard the helicopter land and brought his three grandchildren to see the chopper.Camarillo said that the rivers that surround and flow through the town caused immense damage during and after Hurricane Maria made landfall, and the rains since have been massive, adding that in one day, the town saw 30 inches of rain.

Essential medicines bound for the mountain community of Utuado. Recent rains have destroyed roads and bridges, limiting access to the area. Samaritan’s Purse provided transportation to the area so medicines could be distributed to a local health clinic. (Lara Cooper/Direct Relief)

The medicines were delivered to the Corporacion de Servicios Medicos, which operates a health center in Utuado.

Alexis Serrano, who works for the clinic, picked up the medicines Sunday and said that flooding in the town remains an issue.

The clinic is in the midst of rebuilding much of their health system, and staff have been leaving the clinic instead of relying on patients to come to them. They’ve been conducting care in shelters, as well as going door-to-door to check on patients that are unable to leave their homes.

“There are a lot of places in need here,” Serrano said.

Many mountain communities sit below the flight path from San Juan to Utuado. (Lara Cooper/Direct Relief)

On Sunday, Direct Relief also secured transportation with the U.S. Coast Guard for shipments of essential medicine to a clinic in Vieques, operated by the medical system, Health ProMed.

The island has also had access challenges, and the medical shipments will take the pressure off the clinic’s pharmacies.

Giving is Good Medicine

You don't have to donate. That's why it's so extraordinary if you do.