Direct Relief Pledges Financial, Medical Aid to Pakistan

Direct Relief International, Santa Barbara-based humanitarian aid nonprofit, has offered financial and medical assistance to its partner organizations in Pakistan, it announced on October 29. The effort comes in response to a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Pakistan’s Baluchistan province that same day. As of Thursday evening, the death toll resulting from this disaster has been estimated at around 300.

One of Direct Relief‘s key partner organizations in the area is the American Refugee Committee (ARC). This group is based in Baluchistan’s capital city, Quetta, and specializes in assisting the displaced, of which there are currently thousands. Within five hours the ARC had sent medical personel; doctors, nurses, and midwives to the region to assist with the earthquakes aftermath.

Both the ARC and Direct Relief are organizations experienced in dealing with disasters. They first began working together after a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck northern Pakistan in October of 2005. Since the 2005 earthquake, Direct Relief has sent $14 million in medical aid and investments to Pakistan, and maintained a relationship with the health care providers there.