Press Release

Anera more than doubles value of medical donations delivered

Anera and Lebanese Red Cross staff inventory Americares donated PPE

Anera has distributed the Americares donation of hand sanitizer, thermometers, gloves, gowns, shoe covers, surgical masks and N95 masks to the Lebanese Red Cross for their emergency response teams across Lebanon.

June 2, 2020 | Washington, DC Anera has more than doubled the total value of its medical donations in its last fiscal year, rising to $85 million in value for vulnerable communities. Thanks to the support of partners like Americares, Direct Relief, International Health Partners, Islamic Relief USA, METAD and Ray of Light Foundation, Anera increased the total number of medical donation shipments from 44 last fiscal year to 56 in this most recent fiscal year.

This increase has allowed Anera to respond to the growing needs created first by the growing economic crisis in Lebanon and then by the COVID-19 pandemic, which puts refugee communities at particular risk. Despite global competition for and increased costs of scarce personal protective equipment, Anera’s medical delivery team has rapidly sourced and delivered PPE supplies to first responders in Lebanon.

The biggest recent challenge has been the limited shipping options as flights and sea shipments have been dramatically reduced as a result of the pandemic. Donors are taking two to three times longer than normal to finalize shipping logistics.

Nisreen Khalaf, the director of Anera’s medical donations program, said,

“We’ve been hearing from our partner health care providers in Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan about the difficulties they are having in obtaining protective equipment and chronic disease medications due to the disruptions and shortages caused by the pandemic. I’m really pleased and grateful to our donation partners that we’ve been able to ramp up the amount and value of medicines we are delivering to get them where they are most needed.”

The increase in shipments was possible in part thanks to a generous Islamic Relief USA Palestine Humanitarian Aid grant, which helped Anera cover shipping and handling costs for four shipments to the West Bank and another four shipments to Gaza.

Anera has also worked to ensure an ongoing supply of medications for chronic diseases that put patients at heightened risk if they contract COVID-19.

Nisreen Khalaf is available for a limited number of interviews

For more information:

Steven Fake
Media Relations Officer
202.266.9719
[email protected]

Key details:
Anera has just concluded its fiscal year, which runs from June 1 to May 31. In the last fiscal year, Anera has:

  • Delivered 17 shipments (30 percent of its shipments for the year) since March 11th alone, when the WHO declared a global pandemic
  • Distributed shipments of medicines donated by Americares to Gaza valued at $15 million
  • Delivered its first ever shipment of cancer medicines to Gaza
  • Delivered the highest value of medicines and medical supplies to Lebanon it the organization’s history ($12,056,789)
  • Reopened its medical delivery operations in Jordan with two initial shipments to Jerash and Zaatari refugee camps
  • Distributed PPE to local partners in Lebanon that include diagnostic stations, N95 particulate respirators, hand sanitizing wipes, digital thermometers, procedure masks, shoe covers, gowns, exam gloves, disposable isolation gowns, operating caps, hand soap, disposable full face shields, hand sanitizer, and portable oxygen concentrators.

About Anera
For 52 years, Anera has helped refugees and others hurt by conflicts in the Middle East live with dignity and purpose. Anera, which has no political or religious affiliation, works on the ground with partners in the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, Lebanon, and Jordan. We mobilize resources for immediate humanitarian relief and for sustainable health, education, and economic development efforts. Our staff are from the communities they serve, navigating the politics that constrict progress to get help where it’s needed most. We will keep building better lives until hope finds its way in the Middle East.