Medical Support Departs for 15 Countries

An emergency shipment of medical aid departs Direct Relief's warehouse this week bound for Ukraine. The shipment included critical medications, including treatments for diabetes and heart disease, antibiotics, and other requested medical aid. (Shannon Hickerson/Direct Relief)
By Staff

Over the past week, Direct Relief has shipped 289 shipments of requested medical aid to 40 U.S. states and territories and 15 countries worldwide. The shipments contained 2.4 million defined daily doses of medication.

Medications and supplies shipped this week included cancer treatments, rare disease therapies, diabetes management medications, and more.

Medications Support Essential Health Services in Georgia, South Africa

Medicines, over-the-counter items, and other requested medical support arrived this week in Atlanta, Georgia, to support critical screening and health services.

SisterLove Inc. is an Atlanta-based organization founded in 1989 in response to a lack of attention and resources for Black women impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The organization provides comprehensive sexual health services, including free HIV/STI screenings and care support, across Atlanta. The organization also operates SisterLove International, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, which is focused on HIV prevention and treatment as well as reproductive health.

Direct Relief has provided more than $245,000 in medical support to the organization, including medications for HIV/AIDS treatments, contraceptives, and essential medicines, as well as a grant through Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity to support a mobile bus that provides health services in the community.

Strengthening Cold Chain Capacity in Colombia

Portable ultracold freezers like this one were recently delivered to Colombia to support the country’s efforts to contain rising cases of yellow fever. (Photo by Felipe Luna Espinosa for Direct Relief)

In June, Direct Relief expanded cold chain capacity to support Colombia’s efforts to address yellow fever in the country. In coordination with the Pan American Health Organization, Direct Relief provided 10 ultracold portable freezers to support testing efforts.

The country has recorded an increase in yellow fever in 2025, as well as rising case numbers of dengue fever. Transporting samples from rural areas of Colombia to testing facilities in urban areas proved challenging, with samples often becoming unusable during the long journey.

Direct Relief sent 10 ultra-cold freezers to Colombia to ensure that samples remained viable for testing, which play a crucial role in enabling healthcare workers to identify and treat patients before outbreaks escalate. Transportation of the freezers was provided by FedEx.

Operational Snapshot

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief 257 shipments departed containing 436,423 doses of medication during the past week to organizations, including the following:

  • St. Michael’s Medical Clinic, Alabama
  • North Hudson Community Action Corporation, New Jersey
  • Jefferson Comprehensive Health Center, Inc., Mississippi
  • Minnesota Community Care, Minnesota
  • FAVOR Upstate, South Carolina
  • Corporacion SANOS, Puerto Rico
  • Free Clinic of Rome, Georgia
  • The Neighborhood Christian Clinic, Arizona
  • Medina Health Center, New Jersey
  • Vecinos Franklin (HUB), North Carolina

Around the World

Insulin departed Direct Relief last week, bound for health facilities in the West Bank. The temperature-sensitive therapies will go to Anera, a nonprofit focused on supporting healthcare in the region. The insulin will be stored in pharmaceutical-grade refrigerators, which were also provided by Direct Relief to increase capacity to receive and store critical medications requiring cold temperatures. (Kim Ofilas/Direct Relief)

Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 2.0 million defined daily doses of medication, totaling 30,954 lbs., to countries including the following:

  • Syria
  • Ukraine
  • Burundi
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Tunisia
  • Uganda
  • Armenia
  • Liberia

YEAR-TO-DATE

Since January 1, 2025, Direct Relief has delivered 19.9K shipments to 2,400 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 86 countries. These shipments included 189.4 million defined daily doses of medication, valued at $1.4 billion wholesale, totaling 2.9 million lbs.

In the News

How Direct Relief and FedEx Are Helping Fight Disease Outbreaks in Colombia – FedEx

20 Years After Hurricane Katrina: What Humanitarian Organizations Learned from the Historic Storm – Fox Weather

Equipping Midwives for Success and Transforming Maternal Health in Nigeria – Angels in Medicine

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