Emergency Response and Monitoring Continues in Mexico, Jamaica, and the Philippines

In response to severe flooding in Mexico, Medical Impact emergency teams are delivering essential medical care in Huauchinango, Puebla, supported by vital supplies, field medic packs, and medications donated by Direct Relief. (Photos by Enrique Polito)

By Tori Gordon

November 7, 2025

Over the past week, Direct Relief has delivered 655 shipments of requested medical aid to 48 U.S. states and territories and 11 countries worldwide. The shipments contained 6.4 million defined daily doses of medication.

Medications and supplies shipped this week included rare disease therapies, diabetes medications, personal protective equipment, field medic packs for first responders, and more.

In Mexico, Expanding Health Services in Flooded Communities

Direct Relief is continuing its response to severe flooding in Mexico, working with partners to expand access to medical care in affected communities. This week, staff joined the NGO Medical Impact during a medical campaign in Huauchinango, Puebla — one of the areas hardest hit by last month’s flooding — and delivered 10 additional emergency medical backpacks donated by FedEx to support ongoing care.

More than 100,000 households were affected by the floods, and Direct Relief teams and partner organizations continue to distribute medical supplies and assess needs as recovery efforts progress. More than 300 pallets of medical aid are currently being prepared for distribution to health facilities serving impacted families.

Direct Relief Scales Emergency Medical Support to Jamaica with Charter Flight

Emergency medicines and supplies are staged at Direct Relief headquarters in Santa Barbara on Nov. 3. The medications will be shipped to Jamaica via 757 charter later this week. (Kim Ofilas/Direct Relief)

Direct Relief is expanding its medical response in Jamaica as health facilities continue to face severe outages and supply shortages following Hurricane Melissa. To meet ongoing needs, Direct Relief has chartered a Boeing 757 scheduled to depart Miami on Nov. 8 with approximately 16 tons of emergency medical aid requested by Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness.

The airlift includes chronic disease medications, PPE, first-aid supplies, oral rehydration solutions, water purification tablets, and mosquito repellent, which public health officials have identified as critical due to rising vector-borne disease risk. A $50,000 emergency grant has also being provided to the JAHJAH Foundation to support local health and recovery efforts.

Prepositioned hurricane preparedness packs and field medic packs have already been deployed in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the National Health Fund, and PAHO, with additional shipments of essential medicines and other requested aid arriving in Kingston this week.

Direct Relief Opens New European Headquarters

Direct Relief brought together health leaders, policymakers, and corporate partners in Frankfurt, Germany, to celebrate the launch of its new European headquarters — a major step in strengthening the organization’s capacity to deliver lifesaving medical aid and expand access to care worldwide. (Photo by Leon Vogel)

Direct Relief staff and global partners gathered in Frankfurt, Germany, for the launch of the organization’s new European headquarters on Nov. 3, 2025. The event brought together health leaders, pharmaceutical partners, and government representatives from across Europe and crisis-affected regions.

The event marked a major milestone in expanding the organization’s ability to deliver medical aid worldwide. Attendees described the moment as both long-awaited and deeply meaningful, with speakers from Ukraine, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East reflecting on the impact of Direct Relief’s support in their communities and the importance of strengthening humanitarian supply chains at a time of growing global need.

Monitoring Impacts of Typhoon Kalmaegi in the Philippines and Vietnam

Infographic map showing Typhoon Kalmaegi track towards Vietnam and forecast wind speed, as of November 6. (Graphic by Nicholas SHEARMAN / AFP)

Direct Relief is closely monitoring the severe impacts of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which caused extensive flooding and landslides across the Philippines before moving west into Vietnam and neighboring countries. Hundreds of casualties have been reported, and authorities in both countries have declared states of emergency as response efforts continue.

Direct Relief has been in communication with longtime disaster response partners in the region, including the Philippines Disaster Resilience Foundation and the AHA Center. Direct Relief will continue to monitor the situation closely and remains ready to mobilize medical aid if needed.

Operational Snapshot

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 607 shipments containing 403,760 doses of medication this past week to organizations, including the following:

Good News Clinics, Georgia
St. Petersburg Free Clinic, Florida
Sixteenth Street Community Health Clinic Purchasing, Wisconsin
Pocatello Free Clinic, Idaho
La Community Health Center, California

Clinica Esperanza/ Hope Clinic, Rhode Island
Minnesota Community Care, Minnesota
Heart of Kansas Family HealthCare Inc, Kansas
The Agape Clinic, Texas
HealthRIGHT 360, California

AROUND THE WORLD

Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 6 million defined daily doses of medication, totaling 86,047 lbs., to countries including the following:

Ethiopia
India
Jamacia
Haiti

Guatemala
Yemen
Honduras
Rwanda

Year-to-Date

Since January 1, 2025, Direct Relief has delivered 25.3K shipments to 2,609 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 87 countries. These shipments contained 281.1 million defined daily doses of medication, valued at $1.8 billion wholesale, totaling 3.6 million lbs.