28 November 2013 – Direct Relief, a leading medical relief organization based in Santa Barbara, Southern California, conducted its largest emergency supplies program for people affected by typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).  The emergency relief medical items were delivered on a wide-bodied cargo aircraft flight, arranged and donated by FedEx, that arrived in Cebu on  November 25. 

Around 250,000 persons are expected to benefit from the medical aid.

Direct Relief President and CEO Thomas Tighe left for the Philippines in the evening on November 23 to receive the cargo in Cebu. Consul General Ma. Hellen Barber De La Vega, representing Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., witnessed the three-hour loading of the cargo, together with Mr. Tighe and other Disaster Relief personnel and FedEx crew members.  Ms. Vernice Hunt, a Filipino-American, joined the FedEx plane to help in the relief effort.

Direct Relief earlier delivered 10 tons of materials valued at US$4 million for the relief effort.  The organization’s private efforts in the Philippines are being undertaken in cooperation with a broad consortium of private organizations, including the Asia-America initiative, the Philippine Red Cross, the IPI Foundation and the US-Philippine Society to ensure proper coordination with the Philippine Government and its officials in managing overall relief activities.

Direct Relief is among the largest medical suppliers to Haiti in response to the 2010 earthquake, has top charity ratings and a 99% fundraising efficiency rating from Forbes magazine. END