“Extreme Destruction”     
“Historic Tragedy”     “Devastating”

These are the words being used to describe the Bahamas after they took a direct hit from Hurricane Dorian and remained in its grip for more than 36 hours.

Hitting the islands as a Category 5 hurricane, Dorian’s winds obliterated structures while the waters from the storm surge covered much of the land.

No one knows how many lives have been lost or how many are left without a home. But the early estimates are truly devastating.

Here is what MAP is doing:

• MAP has already airlifted 500 Disaster Health Kits (DHKs) to the hardest hit areas.
• Working with our partner, Sol Relief, another 1,840 DHKs and 200 Sawyer water filters are also on the way.
• Another 2,160 DHKs were packed and trucked for MAP partner, Project Hope. These will be airlifted to the Bahamas as soon as possible.

Turning 65 often brings thoughts of retirement. But here at MAP, we’re celebrating our 65^th birthday and we’re just getting started!

Thanks to your generous support, MAP has touched the lives of millions and millions of people, providing life-changing and life saving medicines when they were in greatest need. We’ve made incredible progress over the years…but there’s still so much more to do.

Have you ever wondered how MAP chooses which medicines to provide those in need?  

Great question! 

Although there are thousands of medicines available, the World Health Organization estimates that just 40 essential medicines can treat 90 percent of the illnesses in the world.

Fevers are a miserable part of any illness. Thankfully, for most of us, a simple aspirin or acetaminophen is never more than an arms-length away to relieve our symptoms. But imagine if it wasn’t. Imagine if you couldn’t get a fever reducer.

Today is World Refugee Day, a day dedicated to recognizing refugees who are living in exile to escape the effects of natural or human-made disasters. MAP partners with relief agencies around the world to help provide critical medicines and health supplies to support these vulnerable populations. Often MAP Disaster Health Kits (DHK) are provided to offer a simple, yet dramatic product for people living in the most desperate of conditions. 

Described as a perfect 'measure of dignity' by people who have lost everything in natural disasters, MAP's signature DHKs contain antiseptic wipes, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other essential items. 

MAP's partner ANERA, the American Near East Refugee Aid organization, has found another creative use for the disaster health kit. ANERA shared the following story about how women and girls living in refugee camps are being trained in disease prevention and hygiene awareness: 

In the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon lies Burj El Barajneh; the most overpopulated Palestinian refugee camp in the city and home to more than 17,000 registered refugees; all living within a mere 1 square kilometer area.

MAP International is honored to announce the support of the U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort on a medical assistance mission departing Miami on June 18 (pictured below). The U.S. Navy hospital ship will begin a deployment to South America, Central America, and the Caribbean to begin a five-month mission as a result of the humanitarian crisis created by the ongoing political and economic instability in Venezuela.

The USNS Comfort will be carrying the work of more than 200 MAP International volunteers who packed 2,500 MAP Disaster Health Kits to aid refugees who have fled Venezuela.

MAP International’s signature Disaster Health Kits (DHK) provides antiseptic wipes, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other essential items to prevent the spread of illness for people caught up in disasters.

“This deployment responds directly to the man-made crisis Maduro’s regime has created,” said U.S. Navy Adm. Craig Faller, commander of U.S. Southern Command, which will oversee the deployment. “Comfort medical teams will be working alongside host nation medical professionals who are absorbing thousands of Venezuelan migrants and refugees. The Venezuelan people are desperately fleeing their homeland for hope of a better way of life. We are committed to finding ways to support the Venezuelan people and our regional partners who share the goal of seeing a legitimate, democratic government reinstated in Venezuela.”

MAP International President and CEO, Steve Stirling said, “We are honored to support the efforts and individuals of the USNS Comfort. MAP Disaster Health Kits will be provided to refugees who have fled the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela which has forced millions to flee their beleaguered country.”

It’s every parent’s nightmare. Your child is sick and you’re powerless to help them.

This was the case for the parents of seven-year-old, Keza from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Keza unfortunately developed premature cataracts which unknowingly robbed her of her eyesight. What started as infrequent headaches and sensitivity to light progressed to cloudy vision and near complete blindness. She was unable to attend school because of her inability to see the chalkboard or read books clearly. Not knowing what would happen to their precious child, Keza's parents were experiencing their worst fears – who would help them?

MAP International's mission of providing medicines and health supplies to people in need extends to all corners of the globe.

We recently received this story from a US mission team who believed they were traveling to the Dominican Republic to help with construction and Vacation Bible School. They ended up performing these duties and extending grace in ways they never imagined:

People began to line up just as the sun was rising. By 8 am, the line circled the entire block with the small church in the center.

Can you imagine waiting hours in line for food at a grocery store? How about driving to your local pharmacy and finding out they don’t have the medicine you need for your sick child?

For the people of Venezuela, this has been their reality for years.  

Severe food shortages and hyperinflation have forced millions to flee the country. The Pharmaceutical Federation of Venezuela estimates the country is suffering from an 85 percent shortage of medicine.  

In Venezuela, there are no visits to the urgent care center if you are injured or sick. Any type of sickness or injury can carry devastating consequences.This has prompted a national health crisis. 

During this Holy week, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ who died for our sins. It is a story of unimaginable pain and suffering resulting in rebirth and renewal. 

Rebirth and renewal were on our minds when we read the story of Marisol, a shy little girl from rural Honduras. Born with a severe club foot, Marisol was orphaned by her parents and left in the care of her grandmothers. At six-years-old, Marisol has never attended school – she rarely leaves her home.