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Disaster Relief & Emergency Response

Direct Relief Efforts Ongoing 

Israel and Ukraine

IMR is procuring supplies to send to three hospitals in Israel and continues to recruit volunteers and collect donations for Ukraine relief efforts.Direct 

In the areas of disaster relief and emergency response, IMR is a first responder providing direct relief to the communities most in need, often at or near ground zero. Our Direct Relief Disaster Area Response Teams (DART) put their compassion into action by helping survivors impacted by disasters around the world.

IMR’s direct relief response meets the critical needs essential to ease the suffering in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. IMR’s philosophy is First In – Last Out.  Typically, our direct relief teams hit the ground within the first week of a disaster. We continue to run operations well beyond the time most NGOs have pulled out to ensure that the needs of the communities affected are met. In our response, we reach those most in need no matter where they are located or what the surrounding conditions are.

International Medical Relief has conducted Direct Relief Disaster Response missions to 22 countries where teams that include psychiatrists, EMTs, nurses, doctors, dentists, specialists, orthopedics, and students reach beyond borders in order to provide critical care to the most vulnerable communities impacted by the aftermath of these disasters. IMR has responded to hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, typhoons, and volcano eruptions. We have also responded to countries undergoing famine and civil unrest. During the pandemic when international travel was not possible, IMR’s efforts turned toward a response in the U.S.

All of IMR’s Direct Relief disaster relief efforts include medical clinics and/or sending resources and supplies to countries in need.

Before disasters strike, IMR trains the communities we serve on disaster preparedness in order to increase their survival in a disaster and expand their literacy capacity.

IDRN logo

IMR is a member of the International Disaster Response Network (IDRN), a collection of organizations and individuals who are committed to work together in preparation, training and response when significant international disaster events occur.

IMR's Direct Relief in the following disasters:

IMR Disaster Relief Response Structure:

We recruit medical relief teams in waves according to the needs of the people in a community after disaster strikes. We mobilize our volunteers based on their skill set as it relates to the urgency of the victims.

Phase 1 – First Responders

Our immediate responders are surgical and orthopedic volunteers, urgent care providers, and wound care specialists, that can help with immediate patient stabilization. We also bring in psychiatric care for posttraumatic stress disorder, grieving, loss of life and consultation on other traumatic issues facing disaster victims. Immediate disasters also include general family practice and internal medicine providers, mid level practitioners, as well as nonmedical volunteers for coordination, set up and communication. Our community health education focus initially concentrates on obtaining safe and secure areas for living if people are displaced as well as clean water solutions, accessing shelter/water/medical and other assistance programs that may be available to the communities.

Phase 2 – Active Operations

In IMR’s second phase our volunteers have been prepared and are actively working in general medicine in the field. Providers of all types are utilized.

Phase 3 - Recovery

International Medical Relief continues to send in volunteer medical responders and begins to create a long term strategic plan based on the health and medical needs of the community. This may include treating general community health, prevention and education, long term and chronic health conditions, health and psychological assessment post disaster, and long range follow up clinics.

Disaster Relief Provided to 22 Countries

Bahamas
Chile
China
Congo
Dominican Republic

Ethiopia
Greece
Guatemala
Haiti
Indonesia

Lebanon
Libya
Myanmar
Nepal
Nicaragua
Philippines

Puerto Rico
Poland
Syria
Turkey
Ukraine
United States

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