Emergency Relief

When emergencies from natural disasters or political upheaval create urgent health crises, CMMB responds. We send life-saving shipments of medicines and supplies to the affected areas. We also provide grants so that urgently needed items can be purchased locally. Our close partnerships with local agencies enable CMMB to identify needs and get medicines to remote areas rapidly.

Haiti: Since the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck in January 2010, CMMB has:

• Raised about $49.7 million in cash, donated medicines and medical supplies for Haiti relief and recovery.
• Sent an additional $40 million for both earthquake related and other needs.
• Accepted 481.3 tons of medicines and medical supplies from 42 organizations, parishes and companies. These products were then placed with over 141 of our local and international partner organizations in Haiti, which have reached over 1 million Haitians in need.
• Donated 110 tents, both family shelters that house 6-8 people and for businesses.
• Supplied hygiene kits for approximately 23,000 people.
• With our partners, placed more than 250 volunteers; our returning volunteers have told us that it was not unusual for them to help 300-400 patients a day.
• Provided prosthetic limbs to over 1,000 amputees as a member of the Haitian Amputee Coalition.
• Distributed 5,000 copies of a patient education booklet, in Creole, for amputees.

In 2009, CMMB made 14 shipments of medicines and medical supplies valued at over US$5 million for emergency relief. Relief helped people affected by emergencies in El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Jordan, Mexico and West Bank/Gaza.

CMMB maintains trusted partnerships in-country which ensure that our donated pharmaceuticals get where they need to go. CMMB was able to respond to these emergency requests with life saving medicines and medical supplies that alleviated the suffering of those who were most affected and vulnerable.

Because of our partnerships:

• CMMB medicines were delivered into Jordan and Gaza despite complicated border closures and restrictions. Vital health care supplies and drugs were delivered to over 30 facilities in the region.  
• CMMB medical supplies of masks and hand sanitizer were delivered to Haiti, Mexico and El Salvador to help combat the earliest outbreaks of Swine Flu. Over 20,000 patients, including mothers, babies, and orphans benefited from hygienic and primary care products.
• CMMB continued to provide pharmaceutical support through 7 partners in the many areas and communities in Haiti that were severely damaged by hurricanes and flooding.
• CMMB continues to support the development and sustainability of the healthcare activities of all of our partners, especially in times of crisis.  

In 2008, CMMB made 16 shipments of medicines and medical supplies valued at US$3.8 million. Our response to the devastating series of Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna, and Ike to Haiti in September 2008, where 650,000 were displaced, provides an excellent example of how CMMB mobilizes medicines and supplies to reach those in need. Our relief efforts have also helped people affected by emergencies in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru.

Other historical examples of CMMB's emergency relief efforts include:

• 2007 - US$1.4 million emergency aid was sent to several Latin American countries affected by severe flooding. Donations were distributed to local partners in Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Peru. Partners included: Amigos for Christ, North Country Mission of Hope, Tomorrow's Hope, Misiones Pax, JC Hispanola, Providence Health Systems, and Jacinta Fellowship. Learn more about the 2007 Latin American flooding.

• 2007 - 6 shipments of medicine and supplies valued at US$3.4 million to help those affected by Hurricane Felix in Honduras and Nicaragua; earthquake survivors in Peru; and typhoon relief in the Philippines.
• 2006 - Relief sent to region of Bantul, Indonesia in response to earthquake damage and to Hurricane Stan survivors in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico.

• 2004 - US$4.7 million worth of medicines and supplies was delivered to local healthcare facilities in Sri Lanka in response to the tsunami, helping local doctors and nurses treat thousands. CMMB also channeled $527,000 in grants through faith-based partners in India to buy medicines and supplies, to conduct trauma counseling, and to support physicians in regions affected by the tsunami. CMMB resources were delivered efficiently and with compassion to those in need, thanks to our partnerships with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, the Catholic Medical Association of India, and many local organizations, hospitals and clinics.

If you would like to partner with us to provide medicines and supplies to people in need, please contact us at medicaldonations@cmmb.org or call 1-800-678-5659.

To submit a request for donations of medical supplies, download and complete this application.