Direct Relief

Why? Because we had the trust and the connections and the relationship with people in the IDF.

We were able to help coordinate between organization like World Central Kitchen and International Medical Corps, which is a great organization from LA, um, and Direct Relief, which is an amazing organization from Santa Barbara, and we were able to help them deliver the aid into Gaza, get all the access they need from the Israeli authorities, and most importantly, making sure that the aid reaches civilians and not Hamas.

Because we realized the only way to do it is with very close coordination-

Mm

And, you know, there were two big topics there, um, and one of them included, uh, the crisis in Ukraine, and the other one was about AI, which there were a lot of discussions about.

But I had a chance to, uh, because we've just gotten a big grant from a organization called Direct Relief, uh, I was introduced by Hillary Clinton, uh, at, on the main stage at the Clinton Global Initiative to talk about what is going on there.

And the point I m- made there, which I wanted to reiterate with you, Steph, is this.

You know, we talk about the war in Ukraine, and of course there is a war, and that war is happening between soldiers on the front lines.

But there is an upside.

On the ground fundraisers, where local citizens of Nepal have reached out to help their countrymen, but organizations around the world, including UNICEF USA, All Hands and Hearts, AmeriCare, Direct Relief, Mercy Corps, Save the Children, One Heart Worldwide, and wine to water, among others, have gone full boat to bring now hundreds of metric tons of critical humanitarian supplies, food and medicines, to that flood-ravaged country.

Thousands of kids have had their lives turned upside down.

The humanitarian response to this crisis has been impressive, with the United States government adding millions in relief to what has already been delivered.

Some groups accept donations of used chairs and match them with individuals, while others use monetary donations to manufacture and distribute new chairs, often in developing countries.

Examples of these organizations include Direct Relief, the Free Wheelchair Mission, and The Wheelchair Foundation.

In the United Kingdom, the government provides and maintains chairs for individuals who cannot walk, ensuring access without charge for those in need.

Seating systems.

So we were using it with a group of organizations who, in particular, one really great local organization in Venezuela called the Wayutaya Foundation.

They were receiving donations and still are receiving donations from a number of different partners, including US-based organizations like Direct Relief and Food for the Poor, and CORE was partnering with them.

And so they were able to take that information and then use this platform to capture that in real time, know who is providing what, provide distributions of those resources to residents who affected people in Venezuela and reporting back out in real time as to what they're accomplishing, who's received what.

And that obviously makes their work so much more efficient.

The World Central Kitchen is one, of course, that I think has done great work elsewhere in the world and seems to be involved here as well.

There's a nonprofit called Direct Relief that is active in this space.

They seem to be a good organization.

Likewise, Global Giving, another nonprofit, and one called Humanity and Inclusion, among a number of others.

About 4,250 people are still missing, and authorities say DNA samples are being collected from unidentified bodies so they can be matched with family members at a later date.

Gordon Wilcock is the Asia-Pacific Director for Direct Relief, a humanitarian medical group.

With blocked roads and damaged bridges, it's a very difficult environment for our team to get into.

We're focused on providing medical materials.

So I was just doing a quick research.

There is several organizations, starting from Medical Doctors Without Borders, Direct Relief, International Medical Corps.

Global Giving Nepal Food Relief Fund, the Global Kitchen, that's led by the Spaniard human rights activist, Nepal Red Cross Society.

And then for shelter, you have CareUSA, All Hands and Hearts, regarding children protection and education.