Over the past week, Direct Relief has delivered 666 shipments of requested medical aid to 51 U.S. states and territories and 19 countries worldwide. The shipments contained 4 million defined daily doses of medication.

Medications and supplies shipped this week included therapies for rare disease management, surgical supplies, diabetes management medications, personal protective equipment, and more.

Direct Relief Accepts Seoul Peace Prize

Direct Relief this week formally accepted the 2025 Seoul Peace Prize, one of the world’s most distinguished honors for humanitarian achievement, in recognition of the organization’s unwavering commitment to aiding people affected by poverty, disasters, and conflict.

“Peace is not just about the absence of conflict, but the presence of dignity, opportunity, and hope for all people,” said Dr. Byron Scott, Chief Executive Officer of Direct Relief, at the award ceremony Monday in Seoul. “This is what Direct Relief strives to create through our work—by ensuring everyone, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay, has access to the healthcare they need to live full and healthy lives.”

Established in 1990 to commemorate the Seoul Olympic Games, the Seoul Peace Prize recognizes individuals and organizations making significant global contributions to peace, development, and human welfare. Direct Relief, the 17th laureate, joins distinguished previous awardees such as Kofi Annan, Václav Havel, Ban Ki Moon, and Doctors Without Borders.

Read more.

Midwife Kits Arrive in Chad

Direct Relief-donated Midwife Kits recently arrived in Chad to support the country’s health system.

Forty Midwife Kits, which contain medical essentials for safe births, arrived to support Chad’s Ministry of Health. The shipment also included other requested medical support, including insulin. The kits have been deployed to 35 countries to support health providers and were designed in collaboration with and endorsed by the International Confederation of Midwives.

Oxygen Concentrators Support Health System in St. Lucia

A critical donation of medical equipment, including oxygen concentrators, will support health services in the Caribbean country of St. Lucia, thanks to a donation from Direct Relief.

Direct Relief made a $3 million commitment to the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, or OECS, to enhance the health infrastructure and resilience within its member states. The Caribbean is vulnerable to natural disasters region, including hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanoes, among others.

St. Lucia’s Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Elderly Affairs announced a donation of vital medical equipment under this initiative, which addresses critical gaps in the country’s health infrastructure, especially as Saint Lucia and the wider region continue to recover from disasters such as Hurricane Beryl in 2024 and the lingering impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the organization said in a statement

The newly donated equipment includes oxygen concentrators, which are often used to assist oxygen levels in people living with asthma or other respiratory conditions.

“This donation today highlights our commitment to ensuring that we have the necessary equipment and facilities in place to support continued treatment, even during disruptions caused by pandemics or natural disasters. Our priority is to preserve life and minimize the risk of premature death, aligning squarely with the ministry’s mandate,” said Jenny Daniel, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs.

Ashes to Anthems Benefit Concert and Panel Held

Associate Director of U.S. Emergency Response Annie Vu represented Direct Relief on the “Philanthropy in Recovery: Equity, Agency & Rebuilding” panel at the Ashes to Anthems Benefit Concert in Pasadena.

Leaders from Direct Relief, the California Black Freedom Fund, BeyGOOD Foundation, Special Needs Network, Inc., Pasadena Community Foundation, Shared Harvest Foundation, and NAACP gathered for a vital conversation about advancing justice, equity, and resilience in disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire.

Operational Snapshot

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 632 shipments containing 2.6 million doses of medication during the past month to organizations, including the following:

Around the World

Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 1.4 million defined daily doses of medication, totaling 39,711 lbs., to countries including the following:

YEAR-TO-DATE

Since January 1, 2025, Direct Relief has delivered 9,774 shipments to 1,835 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 77 countries. These shipments included 92.6 million defined daily doses of medication, valued at $753.7 million wholesale, totaling 1.6 million lbs.

In the News

Medical relief organization ‘Direct Relief’ wins Seoul Peace Prize – Donga.com

Non-profit medical relief organization ‘Direct Relief’ wins Seoul Peace Prize – Yonhap News TV

Direct Relief launches $2.7 million healthcare initiative – Philanthropy News Digest

SPC and Direct Relief: A coordinated approach to Pacific Health – ReliefWeb