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Humanitarian Medical Aid in Times of Disaster

In times of disaster, MAP International provides immediate humanitarian medical aid and relief aid including essential medicines and health care supplies to people left homeless and without access to basic services. From the earliest days of a response, we also begin to focus on helping communities restore and rebuild health systems and lay the groundwork for long-term health development activities.

Haiti Earthquake

This devastating earthquake resulted in the loss of over 225,000 lives and injuries and destruction that affected over 3 million people. MAP immediately dispatched a 400 pound shipment of emergency medicines within 48 hours of the disaster. These essential medicines arrived in Port-au-Prince accompanied by MAP staff in just over 72 hours, using the donated transportation support of Missionary Flights International.

While the majority of MAP assistance was delivered by June, the relief efforts for this event would continue with regular deliveries of needed supplies through-out the remainder of our fiscal year. Over the course of the next nine months MAP HARO staff, along with support from the IMR team, conducted eight field assessment trips traveling to south, east and north of the capital city, where many areas are still in ruins today. The MAP Teams dispatched over 31 million dollars worth of medicines and medical supplies during this period of time with capacity for providing 5.3 million individual treatments.

Indonesia Tsunami

This past year, a 7.7 Richter scale earthquake triggered tsunami hit the Mentawai Islands on October 25th, 2010. The tsunami, up to 5 meters high, has destroyed most of the coastal area in 3 main islands of Mentawai. About 508 people died, thousands of people were displaced, and many survivors were injured.

MAP served around 500 households by providing items for personal hygiene, clothing, and medical treatment including basic health care. Additional support came from the US offices which sent $6,000 in funding for the local procurement of many of the critically needed relief supplies.

Ecuador - Volcano

The Tungurahua volcano erupts twice yearly, not even leaving the families it affects enough time to recover from their economic and emotional loss of the previous eruption. In an effort to prepare the communities around the volcano for future disasters, MAP staff trained community leaders and health personnel to provide emotional support to victims of the eruption. So far, 200 people have been cared for by these trainees. In addition, MAP has distributed 400 air-purifying respirator masks and 30 first-aid kits during workshops. MAP HARO sent over 2,000 masks, so the training and distribution will continue.