Direct Relief International (Santa Barbara, CA) in 2007 provided $136 million in direct aid through medical material assistance and cash grants providing 34.8 million courses of treatment in 59 countries around the world. Direct Relief International (DRI), founded in 1948, is a medical assistance and disaster relief agency providing assistance to indigenously run health care facilities by supplying them with pharmaceuticals, supplies, nutritional supplements and medical equipment.

DRI provides medical assistance to victims of poverty, disaster and civil unrest in the USA and around the world. Over 100 USA manufacturers and healthcare facilities contribute goods to DRI.

DRI works in Latin America, the Caribbean, South America, Eastern and Central Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia and the Pacific region. A few of the projects are:

Afghanistan - During the past 4 years, Direct Relief has provided $4.2 million in medicines, health equipment and supplies, as well as funding to building health facilities, midwife training and enhanced children’s health services.

El Salvador - Direct Relief has provided over $40 million in medical ais to El Salvador since 1965. In partnership with American vitamin manufacturer Leiner Health Products and other organizations, Direct Relief participates in a program that has provided 63,000 El Salvadoran children with visual screenings and provides vitamin A tablets to eye clinics around the country. Vitamin A Deficiency is the most common global cause of preventable blindness.

Pakistan - Since the 7.6 magnitude earthquake two years ago, Direct Relief has provided over $1.2 million of cash assistance to local organizations and $8.7 million in total assistance, including emergency material aid.

Zimbabwe - In May 2007 Direct Relief received a donation of enough antiretroviral therapy drugs to treat 1,500 patients with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. The drug donor also committed to continuing the supply commitment for 3 years.

China - Direct Relief has provided slightly less than $1 million in medical assistance to China since 2000, focusing mainly on maternal-child health care.

Donation and volunteer information are shown on their website.