Over the past week, Direct Relief has delivered 679 shipments of requested medical aid to 45 U.S. states and territories and 19 countries worldwide. The shipments contained 4.9 million defined daily doses of medication.
Medical Aid Continues for Myanmar Earthquake Response
In response to the devastating earthquakes that struck Myanmar earlier this year, Direct Relief continues to support the region with medical aid.
This week, a shipment of emergency medical supplies and medications departed Direct Relief’s Santa Barbara warehouse to support the ongoing earthquake recovery operations of Première Urgence Internationale, or PUI. The France-based international NGO has worked in Myanmar since 1984 to deliver services in primary healthcare, maternal and child health, HIV prevention, protection, and counseling, sexual and reproductive health and rights, nutrition, food security and water, sanitation, and hygiene.
When the 7.7-magnitude earthquake reverberated through the region in March 2025, collapsing thousands of buildings, including health centers, PUI sent a team from its Kayin base to the quake’s epicenter in Mandalay to conduct a rapid needs assessment and conduct recovery and emergency medical treatment. The organization continues to provide emergency medical response to people impacted by the quake.
This shipment is part of a wider Direct Relief emergency response effort following the Myanmar earthquake, which has included emergency shipments to Community Partners International and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management as the region continues to recover.
Direct Relief Visits Organizations Involved in Wildfire Recovery
This week, Direct Relief staff met with organizations in Los Angeles continuing to respond to communities impacted by wildfires. Direct Relief CEO Amy Weaver and COO and President Dr. Byron Scott visited AltaMed, a health center serving patients in the greater L.A. area. Staff visited the organization’s pediatrics and dental facilities to hear how the health center is continuing to respond to patients recovering from the January 2025 fires.
Staff also visited the Hope Now Community Resource Center, Pasadena Education Foundation, and the Foothill Family Ralph H. Moore Jr. Family Center.
GoFundMe CEO, Search and Rescue Volunteer Tim Cadogan Speaks at Direct Relief
This week, GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan visited the Direct Relief headquarters to speak with staff about community resilience and the vital role of volunteer-led organizations in disaster response. A longtime volunteer with the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue team in Altadena, California, Cadogan shared his firsthand experience responding to the January 2025 Eaton Fire, where he and his search and rescue colleagues were deployed during and immediately after the crisis.
Direct Relief supported the team’s efforts by providing essential protective gear and emergency cash grants to aid their operations. Direct Relief’s ongoing support of search and rescue organizations, including donations of medical supplies, equipment, and vehicles like the Ford F450 used in recovery efforts, reflects its deep commitment to empowering community-based responders.
Direct Relief also uses GoFundMe Pro software to power its fundraising, enabling the organization to mobilize support quickly and effectively when crises strike. In his remarks, Cadogan emphasized the still-pressing needs in fire-affected communities and the importance of continued investment in volunteer emergency services, many of which operate with limited resources and rely on public support to equip their teams.
Operational Snapshot
Around the World
YEAR-TO-DATE
Since January 1, 2025, Direct Relief has delivered 13.7K shipments to 2,086 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 78 countries. These shipments included 122.9 million defined daily doses of medication, valued at $1.1 billion wholesale, totaling 2.1 million lbs.
